A preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) exists beyond teacher training too. Lawyers complete the legal traineeship (Rechtsreferendariat), the federal government trains candidates for its career groups, and the federal states run their own training paths. This guide gives an overview of the legal basis, the status and what it means for your insurance.
Short answer: Outside teaching, federal and state law govern the preparatory service. Federal trainees are taken on as probationary civil servants (section 13 BLV). The legal traineeship lasts two years under section 5b DRiG and includes four compulsory placements. The details in the federal states differ (as of October 2026).
The essentials in brief
- The preparatory service outside teaching is regulated differently depending on the career group and the federal state.
- The legal traineeship lasts two years under section 5b(1) DRiG (Deutsches Richtergesetz, German Judiciary Act).
- The four compulsory placements cover a civil court, the public prosecutor or criminal court, an administrative authority and a law firm (section 5b(2) DRiG).
- In the federal civil service, trainees are classed as probationary civil servants (section 13(1) BLV).
- Civil servants with a right to Beihilfe are exempt from statutory health insurance (section 6(1) no. 2 SGB V).
- Part-time study in the legal traineeship is possible on application under certain conditions (section 5b(6) DRiG).
Which preparatory services exist outside teaching?
A preparatory service is practical training after university that leads into a career group. Outside teaching three areas stand out: the legal traineeship, the preparatory service in the federal civil service and the training schemes of the federal states. The table sorts them by their legal basis.
| Area | Legal basis | Status | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal traineeship | German Judiciary Act (DRiG), section 5b | Details and status set by state law (section 5b(7) DRiG) | Two years (section 5b(1) DRiG), two and a half years part-time |
| Preparatory service in the federal civil service | Federal Civil Service Career Ordinance (BLV), section 13 | Probationary civil servants as trainee or trainee referendary | Depends on the training rules of the career group |
| Training schemes of the federal states | State law | Varies by state | Varies by state |
The classification matters more than it looks. It determines which law governs your rights and duties, whether you are a probationary civil servant or an employee, and which insurance solution applies. If in doubt, check your appointment letter, which should state the legal basis.
What does the legal traineeship involve in practice?
The placements are the core of the training. The four compulsory placements cover the judiciary, administration and the legal profession. In the elective placement you can deepen an area that interests you. Which elective placements are allowed and where they take place is set by state law (section 5b(2) and (7) DRiG).
Plan with the minimum lengths in mind. A compulsory placement lasts at least three months, the placement with a lawyer nine months (section 5b(4) DRiG). Knowing the minimums helps you coordinate the change between placements and your preparation for the state examination.
Worked example for part-time study (assumption: regular working time of 40 hours per week): a reduction by one fifth leaves 32 hours. Training then takes two and a half years instead of two (section 5b(6) DRiG).
What does the federal civil service preparatory service mean?
In the federal civil service the preparatory service trains you for your career group. Trainees carry the title trainee (Anwärterin or Anwärter), and in the higher service the title is Referendarin or Referendar (section 13(2) BLV). The title shows you which career group you belong to.
Under section 45(1) BLV, the training and examination rules for trainee referendaries and trainees apply accordingly to federal civil servants who take part in a preparatory service.
What are the pay and insurance rules?
Pay and the legal traineeship allowance are set by each federal state. As an example, in North Rhine-Westphalia the allowance for the legal traineeship is 1,585.17 euros per month from 1 April 2026 under the regulation on the grant of the traineeship allowance (German). The regulation applies until 28 February 2027, and later amounts differ.
For insurance the status decides. Civil servants with a right to Beihilfe are exempt under section 6(1) no. 2 SGB V. Employees with pay are compulsorily insured under section 5(1) no. 1 SGB V. The guide Krankenversicherung im Referendariat (in German) explains which insurance fits which status.
Frequently asked questions
Is every preparatory service a civil service relationship?
No. In the federal civil service, trainees are taken on as probationary civil servants under section 13(1) BLV. For the federal states and the legal traineeship the state law applies. Check your appointment letter or contract to see which status you have.
Can I do the legal traineeship part-time?
Yes, on application, if you actually care for a child under 18 or a relative in need of care, or comparable special personal reasons apply (section 5b(6) DRiG). In part-time study the regular service is reduced by one fifth and the duration is two and a half years.
How long is a preparatory service outside teaching?
For the legal traineeship it is two years (section 5b(1) DRiG). For other career groups the length is set in the training rules of that group. The Federal Civil Service Career Ordinance does not state the length in the sections concerned, so the specific training regulation is the authority.
Are there courses during the legal traineeship?
Yes. State law can provide for courses totalling up to three months (section 5b(5) DRiG). Course periods count towards the total length of the training and are set out in the advertisement or the training plan.
Is the legal traineeship the same in every federal state?
The framework is set by federal law (section 5b DRiG), and state law regulates the details (section 5b(7) DRiG). Two years and four compulsory placements apply everywhere, while pay, admission and organisation differ by state.
So what should you do now?
- Identify your career group and its legal basis, for example the DRiG for the legal traineeship or the BLV for the federal service.
- Check whether your appointment or contract makes you a probationary civil servant or an employee.
- Note the duration, placements and part-time options under state law.
- Clarify your health insurance and Beihilfe rate before the service begins.
- Ask the responsible authority about current pay or traineeship allowances.
Related reading
- Legal Traineeship Insurance: Guide for Lawyers
- Health Insurance for Referendare in Germany
- Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims
- Referendariat ohne Verbeamtung: Angestellte Referendare und GKV
- Seiteneinstieg ins Lehramt: Status, Verbeamtung und GKV
Sources: German Judiciary Act, section 5b (German), Federal Civil Service Career Ordinance, section 13 (German), Federal Civil Service Career Ordinance, section 45 (German), North Rhine-Westphalia, regulation on the traineeship allowance (German), Section 6 SGB V (German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
