The legal traineeship (Rechtsreferendariat) in Lower Saxony differs from teacher training. During the legal traineeship the state pays a maintenance allowance (Unterhaltsbeihilfe), which follows its own rules in state law. This guide explains what to clarify, how to plan your health insurance and which figures you should have confirmed in writing before the training starts.
Short answer: During the legal traineeship in Lower Saxony you receive a maintenance allowance. The competent examination office or the state justice ministry confirms the current amount in writing. Whether you are covered by statutory insurance or by Beihilfe plus a tariff depends on your status. We do not state a fixed figure, because we could not verify a current official amount. Last updated: October 2026.
The Most Important Points
- In the legal traineeship you receive a maintenance allowance, not the trainee pay used in teacher training.
- Older sources on the calculation are not reliable as a current status. Rely on a written answer.
- Whether you are a civil servant on probation is decided by your training office, and that status determines Beihilfe and insurance.
- Your health insurance follows your status: statutory cover, or Beihilfe plus a tariff.
- Clarify any side job with the training office before you sign a contract.
How high is the maintenance allowance in Lower Saxony?
The maintenance allowance is not a salary from a civil service relationship but a benefit paid during training. Its amount follows state law. We do not state an amount and recommend a written answer.
| Topic | Why you should ask | Competent office |
|---|---|---|
| Amount of the maintenance allowance | Basis for your budget and rent | Examination office or justice ministry of Lower Saxony |
| Status as civil servant on probation or not | Decides Beihilfe and insurance | Training office |
| Payment dates and documents | Planning of ongoing costs | Training office |
| Side jobs | Approval, scope, effects | Training office |
The table shows whom to ask. Record the answers in a written confirmation.
Health insurance in the legal traineeship: what to check
Your status decides whether you are insured through Beihilfe and a tariff or whether you stay in statutory insurance. Clarify this in writing before the training starts. Our guide on legal traineeship insurance explains the options in detail. For the basics of Beihilfe during training, see the guide to health insurance during clerkship.
Calculation example for statutory insurance (assumption: contributory income of 1,200 euros per month, employee share only): the general rate of 14.6 percent plus the average additional contribution of 2.9 percent gives 17.5 percent. Half of it, 8.75 percent, equals 105.00 euros. Long-term care insurance costs the member 1.8 percent, that is 21.60 euros. For childless members the share rises to 2.4 percent, or 28.80 euros. The rates come from the fact sheet of the GKV umbrella association and from information of the Federal Ministry of Health.
What changes compared with teacher training?
In teacher training Lower Saxony pays trainee pay with a basic amount that depends on the school type. The figures are in our guide to teacher training in Lower Saxony. If you compare law and teaching, keep the two systems apart. The maintenance allowance in law is a different benefit from the basic amount in teaching.
Frequently asked questions
Do legal trainees in Lower Saxony receive trainee pay?
Under the system of state law you receive a maintenance allowance. Whether and how that fits your case is confirmed by your training office.
Can I work alongside the maintenance allowance?
Take up side jobs only after clarifying them with the training office. Ask about approval, permitted hours and any effect on the allowance. A written answer protects you if questions come up later.
Is the maintenance allowance taxable?
Tax treatment depends on the legal basis and your personal situation. Ask the office how the payments are treated, and check the result with the tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Where do I get binding figures?
Binding information comes from the examination office or the justice ministry of Lower Saxony. Ask in writing for the current amount and how long it applies. This guide does not replace that information.
What does this mean for Beihilfe and dental treatment?
Your status decides whether you are entitled to Beihilfe. If you receive it, a tariff must cover the rest. The basics are explained in our guide to civil servant health aid during training.
What to do now
- Ask in writing for the amount, validity and payment method of the maintenance allowance.
- Clarify your status and whether Beihilfe applies to you.
- Check your health insurance with an offer and a benefit comparison before you cancel anything.
- Clarify side jobs before you sign a contract and plan a buffer for exam months.
- If questions remain, personal advice from academycon is available: how we work.
Related reading
- Legal Traineeship Insurance: Guide for Lawyers
- Health insurance during clerkship: GKV, PKV and Beihilfe
- Legal traineeship in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Teacher training in Lower Saxony
- Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims
Sources: GKV-Spitzenverband: fact sheet on 2026 calculation values (status 1 January 2026, German original); Federal Ministry of Health: contributions to statutory health insurance (status 3 September 2026, German original); Lower Saxony Ministry of Culture: pay information (status 1 April 2026, German original).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
