The legal traineeship (Rechtsreferendariat) in Baden-Württemberg is the practical training for lawyers after the first state examination. During this period you receive a maintenance allowance (Unterhaltsbeihilfe), and your health insurance depends on how you were covered before you started.
Short answer: Legal trainees in Baden-Württemberg receive a maintenance allowance (Unterhaltsbeihilfe) rather than the trainee pay used for teacher training. The state sets the amount and it changes regularly, so this guide gives no figure. Check the current amount with the Justice Ministry or the responsible office (last updated: October 2026).
The most important points
- In Baden-Württemberg a monthly maintenance allowance is paid during the legal traineeship. It is not a salary under collective pay rules.
- The amount and any supplements are set by the state. Use the figure from your official notice, not a figure from an article.
- Your health insurance depends on your status. Family insurance, voluntary insurance and a Beihilfe supplement are possible in different cases.
- Secondary employment needs approval. The geringfügig threshold (minor employment limit) is a useful planning figure.
- The legal traineeship differs from teacher training, which has its own pay rules.
How does the maintenance allowance work?
The maintenance allowance is meant to cover living costs during the training. It is paid monthly and can rise with supplements, for example for a family or special circumstances. Whether you qualify for supplements and how much they are depends on the state rules and your admission notice.
The payment for legal trainees follows different rules from the trainee pay used in teacher training. Comparing the two is still useful, because both trainings are run by the state. The overview of teacher training in Baden-Württemberg (German) shows the rules for that path.
Why you should not copy an amount from an article
Maintenance allowances are adjusted regularly, and press reports and specialist portals quote different dates and figures. An amount from an older article is therefore unsuitable for your financial planning. What counts are the state rules and the notice you receive.
Ask the responsible office which amount applies to your start date, which supplements are possible and when the payments begin. Get the answer in writing.
Health insurance during the legal traineeship
Your health insurance depends on whether you were previously statutorily or privately insured, whether you are covered as a family member and what income you have. The German guide Krankenversicherung im Referendariat: GKV, PKV und Beihilfe gives an overview of the routes.
For family insurance, the decisive question is whether your total income regularly stays at or below EUR 565 per month (2026). The rule is in section 10 SGB V (German). Which benefits count towards this income is for your health insurer to confirm in your case.
If you had no cover before the training, check the period carefully. A gap can become expensive, because contributions can be claimed retrospectively. The topic is covered in Krankenversicherung zwischen Examen und Referendariat (German), and the English guide Health Insurance Between Your State Exam and Training explains the same gap.
Secondary employment and the minor employment limit
Secondary employment during the legal traineeship needs approval from your training office, and the state sets the conditions. For orientation on insurance, the minor employment limit (Geringfügigkeitsgrenze) was EUR 603 per month in 2026 (source: section 8 SGB IV, German).
Earnings above that limit follow different rules. Regular earnings up to EUR 2,000 per month fall into the transition zone (Midijob) with its own contribution rules (source: section 20 SGB IV, German). A minor job has its own rules for social insurance and tax, so check the calculation before you start. The English guide Part-Time Jobs and Taxes for Students in Germany explains the basics.
Worked example with assumptions
Assumption: your maintenance allowance is EUR 1,500 per month and you want to earn EUR 500 extra. That amount is below the minor employment limit of EUR 603 for 2026. The combined total of EUR 2,000 per month is a planning figure before tax and deductions. Use the amount in your official notice instead of this assumption.
Frequently asked questions
Do I receive child benefit during the legal traineeship?
Child benefit depends on your family situation and on the rules for training periods. It is not part of the maintenance allowance. Check the requirements with the family benefits office, because age limits and exceptions are specific.
Must I tell my health insurer about the maintenance allowance?
Yes, when your income or status changes. Report changes promptly so that no contributions are claimed later. This also applies to secondary income.
Can I move during the traineeship?
A move can affect responsibilities, supplements and deadlines. Clear it with the training office first, because a change of place can also affect your registration.
What happens after the second state examination?
After completing the traineeship the maintenance allowance ends. Whether you move into a job, find employment or take a break changes your health insurance. The overview is in the German guide Berufseinstieg nach dem Studium: So gelingt dir der Start.
Keeping records in order
Keep notices, payment records and letters from your health insurer in order. They help with questions about supplements, insurance periods or secondary income. A short list with dates and contact persons saves time, especially when responsibilities change.
What to do now
- Read the admission notice and note the start date, paying office and supplements.
- Have the current maintenance allowance confirmed in writing by the responsible office.
- Clarify your health insurance before the first payment arrives and check family insurance.
- Start secondary employment only after written approval and keep the minor employment limit in view.
- Report changes in income, family or address promptly.
Related guides
- Law student insurance: from studies to traineeship
- Health Insurance Between Your State Exam and Training
- Part-Time Jobs and Taxes for Students in Germany
- Krankenversicherung im Rechtsreferendariat: Ratgeber für Juristen (in German)
Sources: Section 10 SGB V, family insurance (German); Section 8 SGB IV, minor employment (German); Section 20 SGB IV, transition zone (German); GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 calculation parameters (1 January 2026, German). Please ask the state for the current maintenance allowance.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
