The article deals with the formation of foreign language lexical competence in the context of the implementation of the competence approach in accordance with the requirements for the language training of a future specialist and discusses the stages of its formation in the process of learning of the language of the specialty. After the analysis of the scientific methodological literature the author formulates the definition of professionally focused lexical competence in the field of jurisprudence. Basing on the done research, the paper describes the most effective lexical exercises from the point of view of the 1–2 years cadets of Ufa Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. An algorithm for the formation of communicative skills necessary for the implementation of professional activity in a foreign language field within the framework of intercultural communication is presented on the example of a separate lexical topic. A set of tasks is recommended for learning of a terminological minimum. Promising directions for further study of the effectiveness of various kinds of exercises are highlighted.