If you want to enter the clerkship (Referendariat) after the First State Examination, you do not apply to one central office for the whole of Germany. Admission is handled by the higher regional court (Oberlandesgericht) of the district where you want to begin your training, and the requirements differ from district to district. Using the Cologne court as the example, this guide sets out the documents required and the deadlines for 2027 start dates.
Short answer: To be admitted to the legal clerkship (juristischer Vorbereitungsdienst) at the Cologne higher regional court, you must have passed the First Legal State Examination. The application goes to the President of the higher regional court, clerkship department, by post or online. For the start date 1 March 2027, the complete documents must be in by the end of December 2026. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Admission is handled by the higher regional court of the district you want.
- A passed First Legal State Examination in a state within the scope of the German Judiciary Act is required.
- In the Cologne district, currently only applicants who have a lasting connection to the district are admitted.
- Appointments start on the first day of a month, and the deadlines often fall in the previous year.
- Offers usually come by email, sometimes about six weeks before the start date.
Which requirements apply?
Admission requires that you have passed the First Legal State Examination in a state within the scope of the German Judiciary Act. Admission also takes place into a public-law training relationship. This sounds formal, but it has practical consequences, because with the offer you enter a probationary civil service relationship. Check therefore whether existing obligations stand in the way of an appointment.
For the Cologne district, a connection to the district applies in addition. Currently, only applicants with a lasting connection to the district are admitted there. As proof, the information sheet names, for example, a residence together with a spouse, having grown up in the district, or at least two years of residence in the district, documented with an extended registration certificate. Other higher regional courts may have different rules.
Which documents do you need?
The information sheet lists the following documents:
- Birth or descent certificate, and where applicable further civil status certificates
- Certified copy of the certificate of the First Examination, or as a substitute a certificate from the examination office
- Signed tabular curriculum vitae
- Passport photo, three copies for a paper application, one for an online application
- Where applicable, a declaration of consent from your employer if you already hold a civil service position
- Where applicable, a certificate of military or civilian service
- Certificate of good conduct of the category O, not older than one year at the time of appointment
- For an online application, additionally the signed declaration of loyalty
The application can be submitted by post or through the online service. The online service requires an electronic Federal ID (Bund-ID). Responsibility lies with the President of the Cologne higher regional court, clerkship department.
Which deadlines apply to 2027 start dates?
The following table takes over the figures from the information sheet for the Cologne district. Each row refers to the start date on the first day of the month. The abbreviation “d. J.” in the original means this year, so for start dates in 2027 the deadlines mostly fall in 2026 or early 2027.
| Start date | Offers | Postponement until end of | Complete documents until end of |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | Nov. 2026 | Sept. 2026 | Oct. 2026 |
| 1 February 2027 | Dec. 2026 | Oct. 2026 | Nov. 2026 |
| 1 March 2027 | Jan. 2027 | Nov. 2026 | Dec. 2026 |
| 1 April 2027 | Feb. 2027 | Dec. 2026 | Jan. 2027 |
| 1 May 2027 | March 2027 | Jan. 2027 | Feb. 2027 |
| 1 June 2027 | April 2027 | Feb. 2027 | March 2027 |
| 1 July 2027 | May 2027 | March 2027 | April 2027 |
| 1 August 2027 | June 2027 | April 2027 | May 2027 |
| 1 September 2027 | July 2027 | May 2027 | June 2027 |
| 1 October 2027 | Aug. 2027 | June 2027 | July 2027 |
| 1 November 2027 | Sept. 2027 | July 2027 | Aug. 2027 |
| 1 December 2027 | Oct. 2027 | Aug. 2027 | Sept. 2027 |
The information sheet has no date of publication, its deadlines expressly apply only to the Cologne court district, and it names no separate deadlines for other districts. Confirm the cut-off date with the court before you plan. If you want to start in another state, you must ask the cut-off dates of the courts there separately.
When does the offer come, and what can you submit later?
The offer usually comes by email, about two months before the start date, and sometimes only about six weeks before. Appointments take place on the first day of a month. You can submit the certificate of good conduct and the certificate of the First Examination up to four months before the start date. For an offer, however, all documents must be in by the end of the third month before the start.
According to the information sheet, training takes place primarily in the regional court districts of Aachen, Bonn or Köln. If you prefer a particular town, do not expect that in the application, but treat the training locations as given.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a later start date?
Yes. The deadlines show that appointments are spread over the year. Each start date has its own cut-off, so check the table for the month you want.
Is a certificate with a grade enough?
A certified copy of the certificate of the First Examination is required, or as a substitute a certificate from the examination office. Have the copy certified in good time, so that it does not become a bottleneck.
Do I have to request my certificate of good conduct in advance?
The certificate of good conduct may not be older than one year at the time of appointment. Request it in the period that matches your start date, and check the issue date before you submit it.
How does the trainee pay affect my decision?
Pay during the clerkship differs between states. An overview is in the guide on trainee pay 2027 (in German). The binding amounts are set by the state where you train.
What to do now
- Decide at which higher regional court you want to apply and check its requirements.
- Enter the cut-off date for the complete documents of your chosen start date in your calendar.
- Request the certificate of good conduct and the certified copy of your certificate in good time, so they are available by the cut-off.
- Submit the application by post or online and keep the confirmation of receipt.
- Clarify the connection requirement, if it applies to your court, before you commit.
Related guides
- Staatsexamen und Referendariat: Reformen, Fristen und Regeln im Überblick (in German)
- Referendariat: Anwärterbezüge nach Bundesland (in German)
- Anwärterbezüge 2027: Wann die Besoldung im Referendariat steigt (in German)
- Zulassung zum Staatsexamen: Fristen, Unterlagen und Anmeldung (in German)
Sources: Notes on the application for admission to the legal clerkship, higher regional court Cologne (German), undated, with deadlines for 2027 start dates, retrieved November 2026.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
