This study is devoted to the problem of recognition of violence as a specific type of competence of future lawyers and psychologists. A research regarding an ability to recognize the presence of violence in the text among future lawyers and psychologists has been described. 102 participants aged 19-28 years (53 future psychologists and 49 future lawyers) were enrolled. The study showed that the future psychologists are more successful in recognition of the presence of violence in the text and more often correctly recognize the signs of mixed type violence. The qualitative analysis identified 12 criteria of violence that respondents rely on to identify signs of violence in the text. The results obtained can be used for further research on this problem, and, moreover, in the development of training programsfor future lawyers and psychologists.