1985 - Abitur, StädtischesGymnasium Sundern (High School)
1885 – 1987 - German Federal Armed Forces (lieutenant in the reserve)
1987 – 1993 - studied at the University of Münster
03/1993 - first state examination in law at the Higher Regional Court of Hamm
10/1993 – 12/1995 - legal clerkship at the regional court in Erfurt
12/1995 - 2nd state law examination at the Thuringia Judicial Examination Office(Nine months left to finish the professorship.)