California Bar Exam Proves Tough for Kim Kardashian: ‘I Was So Close to Passing’

Kim Kardashian has revealed that she did not pass the California Bar Exam on her first try, putting her dream of becoming a lawyer on hold. The 45-year-old reality star shared the news with fans on Instagram, saying she remains determined to continue her studies.

“I’m not a lawyer yet, I just play a very well-dressed one on TV,” Kardashian wrote, referencing her role in the legal drama All’s Fair. She added, “Six years into this law journey, and I’m still all in until I pass the bar. No shortcuts, no giving up — just more studying and even more determination.”

The star thanked her supporters and described the setback as motivation. “Falling short isn’t failure — it’s fuel. I was so close to passing the exam and that only motivates me even more. Let’s go!” she said.

Kardashian has taken an unconventional path to the law. Instead of attending a traditional law school, she joined a California apprenticeship program in 2018, training under a licensed attorney at a San Francisco law firm.

She completed the program in May and called the experience “the wildest idea that I was going to law school,” adding, “but to me it all makes sense and I hope that I’m forever curious and always want to try new things.”

Her interest in criminal justice reform has been well-documented. In 2018, she lobbied President Donald Trump for clemency for Alice Marie Johnson, a woman serving a life sentence for a non-violent drug offense.

Johnson’s sentence was commuted that June, and she later received a full pardon in 2020. Kardashian also supported the “90 Days to Freedom” campaign in 2019, which helped free 17 people serving life sentences for non-violent crimes. She has publicly backed the bipartisan First Step Act, which reduces mandatory minimum sentences for first-time offenders.

Law runs in her family. Kardashian’s late father, Robert Kardashian, was a successful attorney before moving into business.

Kim has been open about the challenges of her legal journey. She struggled with the “baby bar,” a California exam for first-year law students studying outside traditional law schools.

She failed three times before passing on her fourth attempt in 2021. “I failed! F**** I failed,” she admitted during a 2021 episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. After finally passing, she celebrated on Instagram: “OMFGGGG I PASSED THE BABY BAR EXAM!!!! Looking in the mirror, I am really proud of the woman looking back today in the reflection. This wasn’t easy or handed to me. I failed this exam 3 times in 2 years, but I got back up each time and studied harder and tried again until I did it!!!”

Kardashian also faced setbacks due to COVID-19, which forced her to delay another attempt at the exam. She studied with a private tutor during her preparation and celebrated receiving her law degree in May.

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