The legal traineeship (Rechtsreferendariat) in Saxony-Anhalt is the practical part of legal training after the first state examination. During the preparatory service you receive maintenance aid (Unterhaltsbeihilfe), and your health insurance depends on your status. This guide sorts out the main questions and shows where to get binding answers.
Short answer: In the legal traineeship in Saxony-Anhalt, the pay is called Unterhaltsbeihilfe. The legal basis is the notice of 17 December 2024, valid from 1 February 2025. Ask the Higher Regional Court in Naumburg for the current version and the amount. Last updated: October 2026.
Key points
- In Saxony-Anhalt, the pay for the legal traineeship is called Unterhaltsbeihilfe.
- The legal basis is the notice of 17 December 2024, valid from 1 February 2025.
- Check whether the notice of 2024 still applies today, by asking the Higher Regional Court in Naumburg or the justice ministry. A figure from this version may be outdated.
- Whether you are statutorily or privately insured depends on whether you are in a training relationship or a civil servant on probation.
- We found no verified rule on side income and offsetting. Clarify it before you accept a job.
What is maintenance aid?
Maintenance aid is the pay that legal trainees receive in Saxony-Anhalt during the preparatory service. The ordinance on maintenance aid for legal trainees regulates eligibility and amount. The notice is published on the website of the Saxony-Anhalt state examination office (LJPA).
We do not give a euro figure. A figure from an earlier version could mislead you. Ask the current version and the valid amount in writing. For a comparison of trainee pay across states, see Trainee Teacher Salary in Germany by State, which covers teacher trainees.
| Item | Status in our sources | Where to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Unterhaltsbeihilfe | Training office |
| Legal basis | Notice on maintenance aid of 17 December 2024, valid from 1 February 2025 | Higher Regional Court Naumburg |
| Amount | Not verified, not stated in the source | Higher Regional Court Naumburg or justice ministry |
| Special payments | Not verified | Training office |
How are you insured?
Whether you are statutorily or privately insured depends on whether you are in a training relationship or a civil servant on probation. In Saxony, a public-law training relationship means compulsory statutory insurance, and a civil servant on probation chooses between statutory and private cover under the principle of self-provision. That is the Saxon rule, and it cannot simply be transferred to Saxony-Anhalt. Your training confirmation shows which status applies to you, and the competent office confirms the classification.
For the general picture, read Health insurance during clerkship: GKV, PKV and Beihilfe. For the Saxon rules, the German guide Rechtsreferendariat in Sachsen (in German) gives the detail.
Can you work on the side?
Whether and how much you may work next to the traineeship is decided by your training office. Whether income reduces the maintenance aid is set by the ordinance or the state law. We found no verified limit in our sources, so we name none here. Ask before you accept any offer, and keep the answer in writing, so you can rely on it later.
Where do you find the current version?
The notice of 17 December 2024 can be found at the Saxony-Anhalt state examination office (LJPA). The version in force may have changed since then. For a binding answer, ask the Higher Regional Court Naumburg or the Saxony-Anhalt justice ministry. They can confirm the valid version and amount, and their answer will serve as proof if you need it later.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Unterhaltsbeihilfe and Anwärterbezüge?
Unterhaltsbeihilfe is the term for the pay of legal trainees. Anwärterbezüge is the term from civil service pay law for trainee civil servants. Your notice shows which term applies to you.
Are there special payments?
We have no verified answer for Saxony-Anhalt. Ask your training office whether special payments are made, and get the answer in writing.
Do I need private health insurance?
That cannot be answered in general. If you are statutorily insured, statutory insurance usually stays the base. In a civil servant status, Beihilfe covers a share, and a private policy often fits alongside it. Both routes need an individual calculation.
How long does the legal traineeship last?
The duration is set by state law and appears in your admission. We do not state a number, because we did not find one in our verified sources.
Whom should I ask first?
Start with your training office and then contact the Higher Regional Court Naumburg. A written question helps if you need proof later.
Next steps
- Read your admission and check whether it refers to maintenance aid or to pay.
- Ask the Higher Regional Court Naumburg for the current version of the ordinance on maintenance aid.
- Clarify your insurance status before the start, and get the answer in writing.
- Clarify side income before you take a job, and keep the answer on file.
Related guides
- Health insurance during clerkship: GKV, PKV and Beihilfe
- Legal Traineeship Insurance: Guide for Lawyers
- Rechtsreferendariat in Sachsen
- Beihilfe im Referendariat (in German)
- Lehramtsreferendariat in Sachsen-Anhalt
Sources: Saxony-Anhalt state examination office (LJPA): notice on maintenance aid (17 December 2024, in German); Ministry of Finance Saxony-Anhalt: information on the legal position in civil service (31 March 2026, in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
