The paper examines the significance of the principle of legality in the context of regulation of forensic practice. The cross-sectoral nature of forensic science as a concept is emphasized. The historical background of the principle of legality is discussed.

On the basis of existing legislation and the modern judicial and expert practice are considered the basic questions of destination expertise in civil and arbitration proceedings. Analysis allows us to identify the most problematic aspects of destination expertise in the resolution of civil and commercial cases and offer certain tactical recommendations.

Recent changes in the national forensic legislation are concerned with professional and qualification requirements for state forensic experts. An appropriate response would be to build a system of continuing professional development for individual forensic specializations. The paper presents the results of such efforts within the system of the Russian Ministry of Justice.

The paper highlights key trends in standardization of forensic practices, offers pathways towards improving the objectivity of forensic investigations, and argues for the need for establish a Technical Committee on Forensic Science.

The paper examines key trends in providing forensic support for investigation of crimes against wild plants and animals, and argues for the need to develop wildlife forensics as an independent branch of inquiry pursued by forensic science organizations of the Russian Ministry of Justice.

The paper looks at some problems associated with the appointment of forensic examinations, preparation of materials in the course of forensic examination, and assessment of forensic expert reports in court.

Polymer powder research for establishment of the sizes of its particles is considered. The step-by-step way of processing of empirical data for plotting of distribution of particles by the sizes is described and is shown that use thus of tabular processors significantly allows to simplify performance of necessary calculations.

The paper looks at various approaches to developing environmental forensics in implementation of the Model Law «On Environmental Insurance» on trans-boundary territories.

The authors identify distinctive features of the process of developing methodologies that can be used by construction forensics experts in arbitration proceedings. They discuss major avenues and patterns to be considered while building the methodological framework, along with the key issues encountered in the process, and their optimal solutions.

Contemporary development of forensic science depends on collaboration between forensic science organizations in member states of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC). The Coordination and Methodology Commission on Forensic Science of the Council of Ministers of Justice of EurAsEC member states completed its work in 2014. The paper analyzes its key outcomes.

The paper analyzes the scientific logic behind the theory of integrated forensic investigation on the basis of professional approach. Three key versions of the theory are outlined: “Petrukhin-Orlov”, the currently used one and the one proposed by the authors. A step-by-step comparison of the three versions demonstrates their interconnectedness and continuity.

Discusses the history of the formation of the forensic human odor traces and basic principles on the use of olfactory method in expert research. Analyzed opportunities and future directions olfactory research in criminalistics and the forensic examination.