The legal traineeship (Rechtsreferendariat) in Hamburg is paid through a living-cost allowance (Unterhaltsbeihilfe), not through trainee salaries as in teacher training. This guide explains what the Hamburg regulation sets, how side income is offset, and where health insurance questions remain open.
Short answer: In the legal traineeship in Hamburg, you receive a living-cost allowance under the regulation on the Unterhaltsbeihilfe for legal trainees of 14 December 2022. It consists of a basic amount and may include a supplement for childcare. Side earnings above a set offset limit are offset against the allowance. Ask the justice authority for the amounts in force. Status: October 2026.
The key points at a glance
- Under § 1 para. 1 of the regulation, the allowance consists of a basic amount. The figure is set in the regulation text.
- Under § 1 para. 2, a supplement for childcare exists for one child, with its own amount.
- Under § 3 para. 1, earnings from secondary activities above an offset limit are credited against the allowance.
- The regulation dates from December 2022 and applies from 1 January 2023. Check whether it has been amended since.
- The regulation does not cover health insurance. Your insurance status decides which route fits you.
What does the Hamburg regulation set?
The regulation on the Unterhaltsbeihilfe for legal trainees is state law in Hamburg. The text we evaluated is in a statute collection with status 31 December 2022, and a consolidated edition from 14 June 2023. It applies from 1 January 2023. We do not state the amounts as current, because the version is older than three years. Ask the responsible office for the amount in force.
| Provision | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|
| § 1 para. 1, basic amount | The allowance consists of a basic amount, whose figure is set in the regulation | Regulation of 14 December 2022, in force 1 January 2023 |
| § 1 para. 2, childcare supplement | Supplement for one child with a separate amount in the regulation | as above |
| § 3 para. 1, side income offset | Earnings above the offset limit are credited | as above |
The regulation therefore contains three building blocks. For your planning, what counts is the current amount and how the offset is calculated in your case. The justice authority can confirm both.
How the offset of side income works
The logic is simple. Only the part of your side earnings that exceeds the offset limit is credited. An amount below the limit remains free of offset. The regulation sets out the principle, and the exact limit appears in the regulation text.
Worked example (assumption)
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Earnings from a side job (assumption) | 800 euros |
| Offset limit (assumption, not the regulation figure) | 500 euros |
| Credited against the allowance | 300 euros |
These figures are assumptions that show the logic only. The responsible office will name the actual limit. The offset concerns only the part above the limit, not the whole income.
Health insurance: what the regulation leaves open
The regulation contains no rule on health insurance. Whether you are compulsorily insured, insured voluntarily or privately depends on your status. This matters because voluntary statutory insurance bases its contribution on income, which can include the allowance and side income. An overview of insurance from university to traineeship is in our guide Law student insurance: from studies to traineeship.
We also checked whether Hamburg’s flat-rate civil servant aid applies. The handout on flat-rate aid, status January 2024 (in German) requires pay such as trainee pay and names persons in a public-law training relationship. Legal trainees are not named expressly. Ask the personnel office whether the allowance falls under it.
Step by step: check your situation
- Have the justice authority confirm the regulation version in force and the current basic amount.
- Ask whether the childcare supplement applies to you and how to apply for it.
- Clarify the offset limit before you accept a side job.
- Have your health fund or insurer confirm your insurance status.
- Plan with official figures and keep a reserve for health insurance costs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hamburg allowance the same as the teacher trainee salary?
No. The allowance follows its own regulation and is structured differently. The teacher-training figures and supplements are in our guide Teacher training in Hamburg. The amounts are not comparable.
Is there a supplement for children?
Yes. Under § 1 para. 2, the regulation provides a childcare supplement with a separate amount for one child. The amount is in the regulation text, and the current version is confirmed by the justice authority. Whether further children add supplements does not follow from the extract we reviewed.
Must I report every side job?
The regulation does not state this expressly. What is certain is that earnings above the offset limit are credited. Report side jobs in advance to the responsible office, so that no reclaim arises.
Where do I find the current amount?
The Justizbehörde Hamburg, the Hamburg justice authority, provides information on the current amount of the allowance. Ask for the version in force and for any change since December 2022.
What to do now
- Ask the justice authority for the regulation version in force and the basic amount.
- Check whether the childcare supplement applies to your situation.
- Clarify the offset limit before you start a side job.
- Confirm your insurance status in writing.
- Plan with official figures and a reserve.
What do I need to include in an enquiry?
Name the start of your preparatory service, your training relationship, the number of eligible children and planned side jobs with an approximate income. The office can then check the offset for your case and give you an answer.
What if my situation changes?
If the number of children, your side income or your insurance status changes, report it promptly. That keeps the allowance calculated correctly and avoids queries.
Related guides
- Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims
- Rechtsreferendariat in Bremen: Unterhaltsbeihilfe, KV und Nebenjob
- Rechtsreferendariat in Berlin
Sources:
- Regulation on the Unterhaltsbeihilfe for legal trainees (RRefUBV HA), Hamburg state law, status 31 December 2022 (in German)
- Handout on flat-rate civil servant aid, Hamburg, status January 2024 (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
