The legal traineeship (Rechtsreferendariat) in North Rhine-Westphalia is the practical training after the first state law exam. You work in placements at court, the public prosecutor’s office, administration and a law firm, and you receive a monthly maintenance allowance (Unterhaltsbeihilfe) for this. How the allowance is calculated, and what it does not cover, is central to your planning.
Short answer: In the legal traineeship in North Rhine-Westphalia you receive a monthly maintenance allowance. Under the regulation in the version effective 1 April 2026, the basic amount is EUR 1,585.17 gross. Part-time training reduces it by one fifth. The regulation does not provide a health insurance subsidy (last updated October 2026).
The most important points at a glance
- Basic amount: EUR 1,585.17 gross per month in the version effective 1 April 2026.
- Validity: This version applies until 28 February 2027. Later versions follow.
- Part-time: The allowance is reduced by one fifth during part-time training.
- Insurance: The regulation provides no health insurance subsidy and no further benefits.
- Side jobs: The regulation does not cover them. Ask the responsible authority in writing before you accept any work.
How high is the maintenance allowance for legal trainees in NRW?
The maintenance allowance rests on the regulation on the monthly maintenance allowance, issued under section 32(3) sentence 6 of the NRW Juristenausbildungsgesetz (law on legal training). The version effective 1 April 2026 sets a basic amount without steps. Versions effective 1 March 2027 and 1 January 2028 have already been published on recht.nrw.de, so the amounts may change.
Source: regulation on the monthly maintenance allowance, version effective 1 April 2026 (last updated October 2026).
| Feature | Rule in NRW |
|---|---|
| Basic amount (gross, monthly) | EUR 1,585.17 from 1 April 2026 |
| Family supplement | Granted in line with the NRW civil service pay law |
| Part-time training | Reduced by one fifth |
| Training abroad | Purchasing power compensation in line with section 55 BBesG, only if you are assigned a training post abroad |
| Further benefits | Not granted (section 1(4)) |
How does the part-time rule affect the allowance?
If you train part-time, the maintenance allowance is reduced. The regulation provides for a reduction of one fifth.
Worked example (assumption)
Assumption: training part-time with the one-fifth reduction. The basic amount of EUR 1,585.17 minus EUR 317.03 (one fifth) gives EUR 1,268.14 gross per month. Family supplements are not included in this calculation, because they follow the NRW civil service pay law.
Do you get a health insurance subsidy in NRW?
The regulation does not provide a subsidy for health or long-term care insurance contributions. Under section 1(4), further benefits are not granted. The maintenance allowance is therefore a gross payment, and the contributions you must pay from it depend on your insurance status.
A guidance note from the regional courts in NRW states that, for supplementary remuneration, the state acts as the employer for social insurance purposes and remits the contributions. That note dates from 2017 and concerns the supplementary remuneration, not the maintenance allowance itself. Clarify your insurance status in writing with the responsible authority and your health insurer. You can find more on cover during training in the German guide Krankenversicherung im Referendariat: GKV, PKV und Beihilfe.
Side jobs during the legal traineeship: what is regulated?
The regulation on the maintenance allowance contains no rule on secondary employment. The training regulation for the justice service and the requirements of the responsible higher regional court then apply. Ask in writing before you accept any job, even if it involves only a few hours. The general framework for law trainees is explained in the German guide großer Ratgeber für angehende Juristen.
Comparison: legal traineeship in NRW and Rhineland-Palatinate
The maintenance allowance differs considerably between German states. The table shows the basic amount for North Rhine-Westphalia. For Rhineland-Palatinate we have no verified amount with status 2026.
| Feature | NRW | Rhineland-Palatinate |
|---|---|---|
| Basic amount gross per month from 1 April 2026 | EUR 1,585.17 | no verified figure |
| Legal basis | Regulation under section 32(3) sentence 6 JAG NRW | Not verified |
| Part-time training | Reduced by one fifth | Not regulated in the source we checked |
| Health insurance subsidy | Not provided | Not regulated in the source we checked |
How do you plan your finances during training?
Plan with your net pay. Check income tax and social insurance with the calculator of the German Federal Ministry of Finance. This guide deliberately does not calculate income tax itself. Keep reserves for transition periods, for example between the end of the traineeship and the start of a new position.
Frequently asked questions
How high is the maintenance allowance for legal trainees in NRW?
The basic amount in the version effective 1 April 2026 is EUR 1,585.17 gross per month. Check before you start whether a later version applies, because changes take effect on 1 March 2027 and 1 January 2028.
Is there a family supplement?
For the family supplement, the regulation refers to the NRW civil service pay law. Whether you are entitled to it, and in what amount, you need to check there or with the responsible authority. This guide does not state an amount.
What applies to training abroad?
Only if you are assigned a training post abroad does the regulation provide purchasing power compensation in line with section 55 of the Federal Civil Service Pay Act (BBesG). The regulation contains no further rule on this.
Who can help with my health insurance?
Your health insurer or private insurer clarifies your insurance status and contributions. The authority responsible for your training confirms which allowances you receive. A personal assessment is available through So arbeiten wir (in German).
What to do now
- Check recht.nrw.de for the version of the regulation on the maintenance allowance that currently applies.
- Calculate your monthly needs with net pay, using the calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance as your basis.
- Clarify in writing with the responsible authority whether side jobs, supplementary remuneration or a placement abroad have any effect.
- Clarify your health insurance before training starts so that your cover has no gaps.
Related guides
- Law student insurance: from studies to traineeship
- Civil Servant Health Aid: Rates and How It Works
- Krankenversicherung im Rechtsreferendariat: Ratgeber für Juristen (in German)
- Jura: Versicherung vom Studium bis zum Referendariat (in German)
- Krankenversicherung im Referendariat: GKV, PKV und Beihilfe (in German)
Sources: Regulation on the monthly maintenance allowance, NRW, version effective 1 April 2026 (accessed October 2026); Guidance on social insurance for legal trainees, Regional Court Bonn (dated 5 July 2017); Federal Ministry of Finance: tax and contribution calculator (accessed October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
