Part-time Rechtsreferendariat (legal clerkship) is possible if you care for a child, look after a relative in need of care, or have other serious personal reasons. The legal basis is the Deutsches Richtergesetz (German Judiciary Act, DRiG), while the state laws set the details. This guide explains the requirements, how the length changes, and what matters for benefits and insurance.
Short answer: Part-time training in the legal clerkship is available on application if you care for a child under 18 or look after a relative in need of care. Your regular duty hours are then reduced by one fifth, and the training lasts two and a half instead of two years. Last updated: October 2026, legal basis § 5b DRiG.
The most important points
- Part-time training is available only on application. If you care for a child under 18 or a relative in need of care, it must be granted. Other serious personal reasons can also justify it.
- Your regular duty hours are reduced by one fifth in part-time training.
- Part-time training lasts two and a half years. The extension is distributed appropriately across the compulsory placements.
- The level of your trainee pay and the detailed rules for part-time training are set by state law.
- As a civil servant on probation you are exempt from statutory health insurance if you are entitled to state benefits (Beihilfe). The rates depend on state law.
When is part-time training possible?
The German Judiciary Act names two groups. The first covers the actual care of a child under 18 or of a relative in need of care. Part-time training must be granted on application in this case. The second covers comparable serious personal reasons. Here part-time training may be granted on application, so approval is not automatic.
The word “actual” is decisive. The care must take place in everyday life. Which evidence your higher regional court requires is set by state law, so ask the responsible court before you apply.
Which placements are affected?
Training is divided into four compulsory placements and one or more elective placements. Each compulsory placement lasts at least three months, and the placement with a lawyer at least nine months. An extension is possible only for compelling reasons, not because of poor performance. These minimum periods also apply in part-time training.
| Placement | Minimum length under § 5b para. 4 DRiG |
|---|---|
| Civil court | 3 months |
| Public prosecutor or criminal court | 3 months |
| Administrative authority | 3 months |
| Lawyer | 9 months |
| Elective placement(s) | Set by state law |
How does the length change?
In full-time training the clerkship lasts two years. In part-time training it lasts two and a half years, because your regular duty hours are reduced by one fifth. The extension should be distributed appropriately across the compulsory placements. Your court will show you how this works in your state.
Assumption: the training starts on 1 February 2027 on a part-time basis. After two and a half years it ends on 31 July 2029. On a full-time basis it would have ended at the end of January 2029.
| Full-time | Part-time | |
|---|---|---|
| Length of training | 2 years | 2.5 years |
| Regular duty hours | 100 percent | reduced by one fifth |
| Requirement | none | application with reasons |
| Legal basis | § 5b para. 1 DRiG | § 5b para. 6 DRiG |
How does part-time training affect your pay?
Trainee pay is a matter for the states. State law decides whether and how it is adjusted for part-time training, so do not rely on figures from other states. A German overview of pay by state is available here (in German). For the insurance side, see Health Insurance for Referendare in Germany.
What does part-time training mean for insurance and benefits?
During training you are usually a civil servant on probation. In that case you are exempt from statutory health insurance under § 6 para. 1 no. 2 SGB V, provided you are entitled to state benefits (Beihilfe). Medical costs are then covered by Beihilfe and a supplementary private health insurance. The rates are set by state law.
| Situation | Beihilfe rate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Trainee without children (usual case) | 50 percent | State Beihilfe regulation |
| Hesse, trainee pay | 70 percent outpatient and dental, 85 percent inpatient | Hesse Beihilfe regulation (HBeihVO), § 15 |
The rule of 50 percent applies to civil servants on probation without children. With children the rate is higher in some states. Some states also offer a flat-rate Beihilfe, where you make a one-off choice that cannot be reversed. Whether the longer training changes your entitlement is best confirmed in writing by the responsible state office or your court.
How to apply cleanly
An application affects several years at once, because it touches duration, placement planning and pay. Allow enough time and do not assume that an oral agreement is enough. A written decision is the most reliable basis for your planning.
- Ask the responsible higher regional court early which evidence it requires for care or personal reasons.
- Submit the application with a written justification and attach the evidence, so the authority does not need to come back to you.
- Check how the longer duration affects your placement plan and your examination date.
- Have the effects on pay and Beihilfe confirmed in writing before you sign any private insurance contract.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for part-time training without children?
Yes, if serious personal reasons apply. Part-time training can then be granted on application. The decision rests with the employer, and there is no entitlement comparable to caring for a child. A strong justification is therefore especially important.
Does training always get extended by half a year?
In part-time training the clerkship lasts two and a half years instead of two, which is half a year longer. The minimum lengths of the compulsory placements remain in place, and the extension is distributed across them.
Can I take a part-time job during part-time training?
Secondary employment usually requires approval during the clerkship. The details follow state law, so ask in writing before you start any work. Our notes on student jobs and taxes, Part-Time Jobs and Taxes for Students in Germany, give background on the tax side.
Where do I find the exact rules for my state?
The Judiciary Act sets only the framework. Section 5b para. 7 DRiG states expressly that state law regulates the details. The rules are in the state laws and in the training regulations of the higher regional courts.
Related reading
- Health Insurance for Referendare in Germany
- Law student insurance: from studies to traineeship
- Krankenversicherung im Referendariat (in German)
- Anwärterbezüge im Referendariat nach Bundesland (in German)
Sources: German Judiciary Act, § 5b (gesetze-im-internet.de), retrieved October 2026; Social Code Book V, § 6 (gesetze-im-internet.de, in German), retrieved October 2026; Hesse Beihilfe regulation information sheet, Regierungspräsidium Kassel, 2026 (in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
