The Schwetzingen Technical Institute & Graduate Court Registrars' College is an internal institute of technology of the state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany.
The College trains trainee graduate court registrars from the states of Baden-Württemberg, the Rhineland-Palatinate, and the Saarland in a three-year course which concludes with the award of the German degree of "Diplom-Rechtspfleger (FH)" (= Graduate Court Registrar).
Only those who have previously been accepted for employment by the responsible employing authority as trainees with the status of temporary civil servants may study atcollegellege. Guest students may also be admitted for study.
The degree course atcollegellege is closely interwoven with practical training periods with various offices of the Justice Departments of the states, as mentioned above. This combination of theory and practice means that the students are well prepared for their careers.
The word "Rechtspfleger" cannot be directly translated into English as this profession exists only in Germany. A "Rechtspfleger" might be best described as a kind of graduate court registrar one level lower than a judge. He/she who makes legal decisions in various matters as described on this website is responsible to the law only and – as a judge - is legally independent and answerable only to the law, i.e., he/she is not subject to direction or supervision. A "Rechtspfleger" is usually a graduate of a German degree-granting technical institute subject to the state's supervision. collegellege has a very well-equipped library with 8,000 media units.
The students can borrow books overnight and for the weekend and when there are no lectures.
The library's entire stock of media is recorded in a library database.
The word "Rechtspfleger" cannot be directly translated into English as this profession exists only in Germany. A "Rechtspfleger" might be best described as a kind of graduate court registrar one level lower than a judge. He/she who makes legal decisions in various matters as described on this website is responsible to the law only and – as a judge - is legally independent and answerable only to the law, i.e., he/she is not subject to direction or supervision. A "Rechtspfleger" is usually a graduate of a German degree-granting technical institute subject to the state's supervision.
German graduate court registrars are an independent organ of the German justice system. They make independent judicial decisions on their responsibility for so-called contentious and non-contentious jurisdiction delegated to them.
The areas of responsibility of German graduate court registrars include:
- Land Register matters: decisions on applications for entry of owners of new properties or house-owners and applications for the entry of mortgages, land charges, easements, and other charges in the Land Register
- the compulsory auction of properties
- insolvency proceedings
- the Commercial Register: decisions on entries of merchants and trading companies
- family and guardianship law: the appointment and supervision of guardians, legal carers, those providing nursing care, and the issuing of guardianship and family court approvals
- estate matters: the opening of wills, issuing of inheritance certificates
- criminal law matters: execution of matters concerning fines and prison sentences
- costs: determining court and legal costs after the conclusion of legal proceedings
- applications for legal aid: acceptance of applications and written statements from those seeking advice, approval of applications for financial assistance from needy persons requiring legal aid
- court administration: act as general managers of the court, personnel, and budget managers, district auditors, controllers, or central auditing officials for court bailiffs.
The legal status of a German graduate court registrar is comparable to that of a judge. In their work, graduate court registrars are independent and responsible only to the law. This means that they perform their duties on their initiative, according to existing procedural regulations and legislation, and with no superior professional instructions.
The performance of a wide variety of duties requires professional self-confidence and the willingness to accept responsibility. The profession is particularly suitable for those students who have passed the "Abitur" (German university matriculation examination), who have an excellent general education, who are open, mobile, and versatile, and who have a penchant for legal activities when dealing with people making use of the justice system.
The practical part of the course teaches the students how to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired to a graduate court registrar's work. Provided education level and ability permit, the students can carry out an increasing amount of practical work themselves. Working groups also supplement the practical part of the course.
International students wanting to study at a German tertiary institute of education for part of their degree course can also be admitted on an individual basis for a period to be determined as an international student at the Schwetzingen Technical Institute. International students thus have the opportunity of acquiring a basic understanding of German Civil and Civil Procedural Law and the Law of Non-Contentious Jurisdiction in a compact form in a relatively short period.
Besides, those persons from within Germany and overseas who can demonstrate a sufficiently high level of education may be permitted to participate in individual lectures or seminars at the Schwetzingen Technical Institute as guest students provided sufficient places are available. In particular, earlier graduates who are now working in a related career can thus refresh their knowledge.
All guest students may also take sit tests in the subjects they select during the course. If desired, they can request a certificate confirming their participation and their grades in the tests. They will not be admitted to examinations.
International students are currently not charged tuition fees. They are responsible for their accommodation, food and insurance cover. Inquiries and enrolments as guest students are to be submitted to the Schwetzingen Technical Institute in writing.
