The legal traineeship (Rechtsreferendariat) in Saxony is the two-year practical part of legal training after the first state examination. You work in courts and authorities and receive trainee pay (Ausbildungsbezüge). How much you receive, how you are insured and what a side job changes depend on your legal status. This guide sorts the answers and gives the date and source for each figure.
Short answer: In Saxony, the legal traineeship pays trainee pay (Ausbildungsbezüge). We do not state a verified amount, because the most recent figure from the Saxon justice ministry dates from March 2024. There are no annual bonuses. The traineeship lasts two years. Whether you are statutorily or privately insured depends on your status: a public-law training relationship or a civil servant on probation (Beamtenverhältnis auf Widerruf).
Key points
- The pay is called Ausbildungsbezüge in Saxony. We do not state a verified amount, because the most recent figure dates from March 2024.
- The traineeship lasts two years. Annual bonuses such as a Christmas bonus are not paid.
- In a public-law training relationship you are subject to compulsory statutory health insurance.
- As a civil servant on probation, the principle of self-provision (Eigenvorsorge) applies. With private cover you are entitled to civil servant health aid (Beihilfe).
- Whether you can choose a flat-rate health aid instead of individual Beihilfe is for the Beihilfe office to clarify, because the information on it is contradictory.
- Side income can reduce your pay. Clarify this before you accept a job.
What do you receive during the legal traineeship in Saxony?
In Saxony, training takes place either in a public-law training relationship or as a civil servant on probation. The justice ministry calls the pay Ausbildungsbezüge, not Anwärterbezüge. Your entitlement starts on the day you begin the traineeship. If you are married or have children, a family supplement (Familienzuschlag) is added. The Landesamt für Steuern und Finanzen Dresden determines it.
| Item | Rule in Saxony | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | Ausbildungsbezüge, basic amount: no verified figure | Saxon justice ministry, March 2024 |
| Family supplement | Added depending on marital status and children, determined by the Landesamt für Steuern und Finanzen Dresden | Saxon justice ministry, March 2024 |
| Annual bonuses | Not paid | Saxon justice ministry, March 2024 |
| Duration | Two years | Saxon justice ministry, March 2024 |
| Reductions | Possible if you fail the Second State Examination or have offsettable side income | Saxon justice ministry, March 2024 |
We do not state a number, because it comes from an information sheet dated March 2024. Do not rely on old reference values; request your current pay notice before you plan your finances. For a net calculation, use the tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance (bmf-steuerrechner.de), because income tax depends on your tax class and family situation.
How are you insured in Saxony?
The answer depends on your status when you start. Your appointment documents show whether you are in a public-law training relationship or a civil servant on probation. The two routes work very differently.
In a public-law training relationship
Trainees in this status are subject to social insurance. This means compulsory statutory health insurance, and an exemption from the pension insurance is not possible. For sickness, the ministry names continued pay for up to six weeks, provided the training relationship has lasted four weeks without interruption. Before that, sickness benefit under section 47 of the Social Code Book V (SGB V) applies. You can read more in Health insurance during clerkship: GKV, PKV and Beihilfe.
As a civil servant on probation
Here the principle of self-provision applies. In most cases you choose between statutory and private health insurance. With private cover you are entitled to civil servant health aid under section 80 of the Saxon Civil Servant Act (Sächsisches Beamtengesetz). Your pay continues during sickness. Health aid supplements your insurance rather than replacing it fully. The guide Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims explains the mechanics.
What happens during illness, extensions and special leave?
The traineeship lasts two years. Periods of illness are generally counted up to three months per training year, and beyond that an extension is possible. Special leave (Sonderurlaub) is generally up to six months and no more than one year in total. You receive no trainee pay during special leave. If you plan a longer break, follow these steps:
- Apply for special leave with your training office and get the exact period confirmed in writing.
- Check whether the period you want stays within the one-year limit.
- Plan your spending without trainee pay and clarify how you are insured during that time.
- Settle your insurance before the break starts, in writing with your health insurer or your private insurer.
Can you work on the side during the traineeship?
The justice ministry notes that offsettable side income can lead to reductions in your pay. Whether a particular job is allowed, and how it is counted, depends on the rules of your training office. We did not find a verified threshold in our sources, so we do not name one here. Ask before you accept the job and keep the answer in writing. If you are studying a different subject, the guide Lehramtsreferendariat in Sachsen (in German) describes the rules for teacher trainees.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Christmas bonus during the legal traineeship in Saxony?
No. The Saxon justice ministry says that annual special payments are not granted. Plan your expenses monthly and do not count on a payment in December.
Am I required to have statutory health insurance?
In a public-law training relationship, compulsory statutory health insurance applies. As a civil servant on probation, you can choose between statutory and private cover, because the principle of self-provision applies. Your documents show which rule applies to you.
What is the flat-rate health aid (pauschale Beihilfe)?
Whether you can choose a flat-rate health aid instead of individual Beihilfe is for the Beihilfe office to clarify, because the information on it is contradictory. Whether it suits you depends on your tariff and your expected costs. Check it with your own figures before you start the traineeship.
Does the pension insurance fall away?
In a public-law training relationship, an exemption from pension insurance is not possible, and the ministry states this explicitly. As a civil servant on probation, retirement provision follows civil service law instead of statutory pension insurance.
What happens if I fail the Second State Examination?
The justice ministry names reductions of your pay as a possible consequence. If you have trouble with the exam, talk to your training office early, so that you can adjust your finances in time.
Next steps
- Read your appointment confirmation and check whether you are in a public-law training relationship or a civil servant on probation.
- Clarify your health insurance before you start, and ask about flat-rate health aid if you are statutorily or fully privately insured.
- Ask the Landesamt für Steuern und Finanzen Dresden to check your family supplement if you are married or have children.
- Ask your training office for the current pay table and the rules on side income before you take a job.
Related guides
- Health insurance during clerkship: GKV, PKV and Beihilfe
- Legal Traineeship Insurance: Guide for Lawyers
- Civil Servant Health Aid: Rates and How It Works
- Beihilfe im Referendariat (in German)
- Referendariat: Anwärterbezüge nach Bundesland (in German)
Sources: Rechtsreferendare in Sachsen: Zusammenfassung des Justizministeriums (Stand März 2024, in German); Verwaltungsvorschrift zur Sächsischen Beihilfeverordnung (version 1 July 2025, in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
