Doktor der Rechte
Kaufmann was born as the youngest of three brothers to a family living in Stuttgart-Weilimdorf. His father, a confidential clerk, died in 1982. He received his Abitur in 1989 at the Solitude-Gymnasium and served during his Zivildienst at the Diakonisches Werk Württemberg. He attended university in Tübingen, majoring in Legal science, including a year at Leiden University. Afterwards, he worked as a scientific assistant at the University of Hohenheim. Kaufmann had a Konrad Adenauer Foundation scholarship since before he graduated from university and became a Doctor of law in 2001. He is a member of Phi Delta Phi.