It’s done. The course has been completed to the point that the practical part can begin – also known as a legal clerkship. But while prospective teachers tend to be concerned about technical priorities due to their work and studies and want to get their excitement of being in front of students under control, equally important things fall under the table. Personal points are also important to consider in advance. But which ones are they and what is important?
Health insurance: GKV or PKV?
Prospective teachers can decide for themselves whether they choose statutory health insurance or private health insurance. When making the decision, of course, the further life path must be taken into account:
- Verbeamtung – how likely is it in the coming years? The PKV is particularly suitable for civil servants, as they ultimately receive the allowance. However, depending on the focus and state, civil servant status is not always certain. Now, the GKV can sometimes be financially more sensible for security reasons.
- PKV-Tariffs – They are very cheap for prospective teachers, as the trainee only has to close the insurance gap through the insurance. The employer takes care of most of the treatments, the private health insurance now closes the gap to 100 percent.
- GKV Tariffs – they are established by law. If the teacher is not employed, the institution pays the usual employer’s share. The GKV can be upgraded with additional insurance at your own expense.
However, the question is also how old the trainee lawyer is. Many only start their studies the second way. In principle, private health insurance becomes more and more expensive with age, which of course makes entry more difficult. The regulations remain the same, but as the general contribution rates increase, the prospective teacher has to pay more for the insurance. From the age of fifty in particular, there is often only the basic tariff as a cheap solution – this one again largely resembles the statutory insurance. This also applies to a possible change back to the statutory health insurance. From 55 this is as good as impossible.
Carry out your own financial planning
The legal clerkship is practically the real entry into the professional life of a teacher. From this point on, the further career can be estimated relatively well, so that far-reaching financial questions can be clarified:
- Home – What about the desire to have your own house? Of course, this should not be bought now, but the preparation of the financing can begin now. A good amount should be set aside every month. Financing your own home is much easier after the civil service anyway, because the construction financing is extremely cheap.
- validation – In and of itself, a civil servant is of course well protected, as he still receives a handsome pension in old age. However, there is also a gap to the last salary in this regard. Civil servants can now create private provision for themselves. If there is already a family or if all eventualities are to be provided for today, term life insurance could be suitable. It is usually possible to name the recipient later without any problems.
Regional ties: It is not always easy to change locations later
There are downsides to being a teacher – and these do not always consist of ailing buildings or rebellious students. While the private environment can easily apply anywhere in Germany, depending on the profession, it is not always possible for teachers to change across the borders of a federal state. Trainee lawyers should be aware of this at an early stage and possibly plan the traineeship position in the desired federal state. Indeed:
- recognition – Just like the school system, the study system in Germany is also federal, which means that ultimately each federal state decides for itself. A student from Hamburg for a teaching post will only have a bad chance of getting a traineeship in Bavaria without further semesters.
- Later change – In principle, teachers have to ask the employer and the higher education authority if they want to change schools. Even in the immediate vicinity, this is not necessarily easy, because the education authority regulates how many and which teachers can move where. Outside of the state, it’s even more difficult.
- canditature – Every teacher can apply anywhere in Germany. The application follows as a freelance applicant for a vacant position. However, the free applicants are placed on the back of the list.
- Teacher exchange process – for this can already register trainees. Since there are federal states with an enormous shortage, they definitely accept foreign teachers. However, preference is given to those who have families on site. The social reasons for this change will be asked in the application.
- success – Whether a change succeeds or whether the exchange process bears fruit is always related to the subjects. There are simply long-running hits among teachers, so there is an oversupply in these areas. History and German are just two examples. Those who teach rare subjects are more likely to be lucky as long as these are in demand in all federal states. The problem is of course that there has to be an exchange partner.
However, a change is not possible without approval from the responsible school authority. The release depends on whether the vacancy can be filled or otherwise closed. Sometimes the approval comes with a waiting period of a few months, which means that the permit is there, but only from the next six months, for example.
In principle, a six-month period applies to such requirements. The application must be submitted to the supervisor and the school authority six months before the main change date (31 January deadline). A change at half-year is only possible in some federal states.
Figure 2: If the change of location is later associated with effort, the legal clerkship should, if possible, be completed in the federal state in which the prospective teachers also want to work later. Image Source: @ Megan Soue / Unsplash.com
Conclusion – the traineeship also promises bonds
Although this practical time is incredibly exciting and beautiful, students definitely have to think about what their future life will look like. As teachers, students are strongly bound and cannot switch to another employer just because they would like to swap the Erzgebirge for the sea or the Alps. Decisions are also important when it comes to your own provision and security. In return, prospective teachers can also rely on attractive benefits and aids, which should make it easier for them to be local.
A press release from CLARK
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