The legal clerkship (Rechtsreferendariat) in Berlin is not paid as a civil servant salary. Trainees receive a maintenance allowance (Unterhaltsbeihilfe) instead. If you are not entitled to Beihilfe, the state contribution to medical costs that civil servants receive, you need to arrange your health insurance yourself. This guide explains the allowance, the typical insurance routes and the points to settle before you start. An overview of cover during training is also in our guide to health insurance for trainee lawyers and teachers and in the German guide on health insurance during the legal clerkship (in German).
Short answer: During the legal clerkship in Berlin you receive a maintenance allowance under state law. It is not a civil servant salary. In most cases you arrange health insurance yourself, through statutory insurance or a private policy without Beihilfe. Ask the responsible office for the exact amount. Last updated: October 2026.
Key points
- The legal clerkship in Berlin is financed through a maintenance allowance, not through civil servant pay.
- The amount of the allowance is set by state law. This text does not list figures, because they can change.
- Without civil servant status you usually have no Beihilfe, so you need your own health insurance solution.
- Which insurance fits depends on how you were insured before. Switching is subject to deadlines.
- Side jobs need prior approval, and training comes first.
What is the maintenance allowance during the legal clerkship?
The maintenance allowance is the payment with which the state finances your training. It is paid throughout the training, including the stations at court, at the public prosecutor, in administration and at a law firm. As a rule, it is not pay under civil servant law. The federal German Judiciary Act (Deutsches Richtergesetz) sets the framework for the training. The details of the payments are a matter for the state.
The amount of the allowance in Berlin is set by state law. If you want to know which amount applies to you, request the answer from the responsible justice administration in writing and keep the notice. Extra payments such as a family allowance (Familienzuschlag) are not the same for everyone and depend on your family situation.
| Term | Meaning | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Unterhaltsbeihilfe (maintenance allowance) | Monthly payment from the state during training | Check the amount and payment date in the notice |
| Beihilfe (for civil servants) | Partial reimbursement of medical costs by the employer | Check whether it applies to your status at all |
| Nebentätigkeit (side job) | Any work alongside training | Ask in writing first and get approval |
| Ausbildungsstation (training station) | Compulsory or elective station with a fixed length | Compare the station plan with your duty hours |
How are you insured in Berlin?
Many trainees have to decide whether to stay in statutory health insurance (GKV) or switch to private health insurance (PKV). The answer depends on how you were insured before the training. If you were family-insured before, first check whether that cover continues during the training. If you were already insured in your own name in statutory insurance, you usually stay a member, unless another obligation applies.
Beihilfe, as civil servants receive it, does not automatically come with the maintenance allowance. Every decision should therefore rest on your actual insurance status, not on assumptions. Ask your health insurer in writing which membership applies to you. You can also request a personal assessment of your case from Academycon, see how we work.
What does statutory health insurance cost during training?
The general contribution rate of statutory health insurance is 14.6 percent of contributable income in 2026. On top comes the insurer-specific additional contribution (Zusatzbeitrag). The average additional contribution was 2.9 percent in 2026. Each insurer sets its own rate, so check the figure for your insurer.
Assumption: contributable income of 1,000 euros per month and an additional contribution of 2.9 percent. Then 14.6 percent of 1,000 euros is 146 euros, and 2.9 percent of 1,000 euros is 29 euros. Together that is 175 euros per month. The example only shows the method. Whether and how much of your income is contributable is decided by your health insurer in your individual case.
| Component | Value | Status and source |
|---|---|---|
| General contribution rate | 14.6 percent | 1 Jan 2026, official (GKV-Spitzenverband) |
| Average additional contribution | 2.9 percent | 2026, official (Federal Ministry of Health) |
| Worked example with 1,000 euros (assumption) | 175 euros per month | calculated, October 2026 |
Can you work a side job during the legal clerkship?
Side jobs are only possible to a limited extent during the legal clerkship. Training comes first, and work outside duty hours usually requires approval from the training authority. Depending on state rules, pay for side work can also be offset against the maintenance allowance.
Describe the type, scope and period of the work in writing before you sign any contract, and get the approval confirmed. Work without approval can later cause problems when your training is assessed or your payments are made.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get a civil servant-style salary in Berlin?
No. During the legal clerkship you receive a maintenance allowance under state law. It is not the same as a civil servant salary. Ask the responsible office in writing whether any supplements apply to you.
Can I stay privately insured during training?
That can be possible if you meet the requirements for private health insurance. Without Beihilfe the contribution is often well above the statutory one, so compare both options fully. Ask for contributions, benefits and follow-up costs in writing before you decide.
How long does the legal clerkship in Berlin last?
The length follows federal and state law and is stated in your appointment letter. Plan your time by the exam dates and station changes, not only by the calendar.
What happens to my insurance if I quit the training?
It depends on your case. When the training ends, the maintenance allowance usually ends too, and your health insurance has to be arranged again. Deadlines can run from the day you leave, so settle the consequences with your insurer beforehand.
Do I have to report a side job to the training office?
Usually yes. Side jobs must be notified and approved. An informal message is often not enough. Ask the training office which procedure applies.
What to do next
- Read your appointment letter and note the start, the length and the stated maintenance allowance.
- Ask the training office in writing which payments apply and whether Beihilfe applies.
- Check your current insurance status with your health insurer before you cancel anything.
- Compare statutory and private health insurance on contributions, benefits and follow-up costs.
- Report planned side jobs in advance and get them approved in writing.
Related guides
- Health insurance during clerkship: GKV, PKV and Beihilfe
- Health insurance during the legal clerkship: guide for lawyers (in German)
- Health insurance during the clerkship: GKV, PKV and Beihilfe (in German)
- Trainee with statutory insurance: how voluntary GKV works (in German)
- Teacher training in Berlin 2026/27: allowances, Beihilfe and health insurance
Sources: Deutsches Richtergesetz (German Judiciary Act), gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed October 2026, GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on contribution parameters, status 1 Jan 2026, Federal Ministry of Health, contributions in statutory health insurance, status 3 Sep 2026.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
