Purpose. The purpose of the study is to analyze the legal and state views of E. Olesnytsky, in particular his assessment of imperial law, as well as practical activities as a lawyer and one of the initiators of the cooperative movement in Galicia in the early twentieth century. Methods. The methodological basis of the study was a set of general scientific, special scientific and philosophical methods, as well as the principles of historicism. The key was the biographical method and the comparative approach, which allowed to reveal the peculiarities of the formation of legal views of E. Olesnytsky. Findings. It is established that through the prism of the analysis of political and legal views of E. Olesnytsky it is possible not only to trace the level of legal culture, social and political activity of the population of Galicia, but also to determine the practical content of imperial legislation. The influence of I. Franko and socialist ideas in general on the legal views of E. Olesnytsky, who was one of the founders of the «Сhasopys Рravnycha», actively analyzed the imperial regional legislation for expediency, rationality and compliance with public interests. This work was key in raising the level of legal culture of the population, and after 1891 it was supplemented by the legal activity of E. Olesnytsky. Among the regional legislation, the lawyer's special attention was drawn to the right of propination, which gave large landowners a monopoly on the production and sale of alcohol. After 1901, E. Olesnytsky focused on the development and popularization of the cooperative movement in Galicia, including the legal protection of producers and sellers of agricultural products. Originality. The directions of E. Olesnytsky's professional and professional interests in the field of economic and financial law of Austria-Hungary, advocacy and organization of the cooperative movement are determined. Practical significance. The results of the study can be used in further historical and legal research, preparation of special courses.