Lead
On Nov. 8, 2025, reality star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian announced via Instagram that she did not pass the California bar exam and vowed to continue pursuing state licensure. The 45-year-old said she has been on a six-year law journey and described the setback as motivation to study harder. Kardashian said she “came so close” and emphasized there would be no shortcuts before she attempts the exam again. Her public profile, prior legal advocacy and recent use of generative AI for studying have focused extra attention on the result.
Key Takeaways
- Kim Kardashian, 45, announced on Nov. 8, 2025, that she failed the California bar exam and will continue studying to retake it.
- She described herself as six years into a legal apprenticeship and said this attempt came “so close,” though she did not disclose a score or margin.
- Kardashian passed the California “baby bar” in December 2021 after multiple tries and passed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) in May.
- Her legal apprenticeship plan originally targeted a 2022 bar test date but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other scheduling shifts.
- She has worked with attorneys Van Jones and Jessica Jackson as sponsors and drew public attention after advocating for Alice Marie Johnson, whose sentence was commuted in 2018 and later pardoned in 2020.
- Kardashian has publicly said she used generative AI tools, including ChatGPT, to support study, and has also noted limits and errors in that technology.
- Her father, the late Robert Kardashian, was part of O.J. Simpson’s 1995 defense team; that family connection has been frequently cited in media coverage.
Background
Kardashian’s pursuit of legal licensure grew from high-profile criminal-justice advocacy and a public decision in 2018 to study law without attending traditional law school. She has followed California’s rule allowing a four-year law office apprenticeship as an alternative to law-school education, a path supported by legal sponsors and supervised practice. That route requires passing the state’s bar exam after the apprenticeship period and meeting character, fitness and testing prerequisites such as the MPRE.
The celebrity dimension of Kardashian’s effort has drawn unusual public scrutiny. Her advocacy in the Alice Marie Johnson case — which contributed to a presidential commutation in 2018 and a later pardon — brought her attention from advocates and officials and helped catalyze her legal interest. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted exam schedules and administrative timelines nationwide, delaying many candidates’ plans and complicating traditional bar prep calendars.
Main Event
Kardashian made the announcement on Instagram on Nov. 8, 2025, stating plainly that she had not yet become a lawyer and that she would persist until she passes. She framed the result as fuel for further study and emphasized a self-described commitment to no shortcuts. The post came after media appearances in which she expressed optimism about her prospects, including a recent talk-show interview where she said she expected to qualify soon.
Her entertainment work has paralleled the legal effort: Kardashian stars in Ryan Murphy’s series All’s Fair as a divorce attorney, a role she and producers have discussed publicly while she simultaneously pursues licensure. During publicity appearances, she has at times referenced her real-world legal studies, drawing attention to the boundary between on-screen portrayals and the formal, regulated practice of law in California.
She also acknowledged her study practices publicly, saying she used generative AI tools to assist with legal questions but that those tools can be unreliable. Kardashian described instances where AI answers were incorrect and said she treats the technology as an aid rather than a replacement for traditional study methods. The exact score or margin by which she missed the bar was not released by Kardashian or the state examiners.
Analysis & Implications
Kardashian’s high-visibility attempt to become a licensed lawyer spotlights alternative pathways into the profession, including California’s apprenticeship option. Her progress underscores both the openness of certain licensing regimes and the practical hurdles — sustained study, supervised practice and rigorous testing — that remain for nontraditional candidates. For aspiring lawyers considering apprenticeship, her experience illustrates the multi-year commitment required and the public scrutiny celebrities can attract when pursuing regulated professions.
The episode also raises questions about how technology is integrated into professional preparation. Kardashian’s reported use of generative AI for study reflects a growing trend among examinees and students; regulators and educators will need to clarify guidance about acceptable use for exam prep and for client-facing legal work. The reliability limits she described point to the need for human oversight and critical evaluation of AI outputs in legal settings.
From a broader perspective, the setback is unlikely to alter Kardashian’s public influence on criminal-justice issues, but it may reshape perceptions of celebrity transitions into professional roles. Success or eventual licensure would likely amplify her platform on reform work; repeated public failures could provoke debate about privilege, access and the standards applied to all candidates. For the California State Bar, the case is a reminder of balancing transparent processes with fair treatment for all examinees, regardless of fame.
Comparison & Data
| Year / Event | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Decided to study law after advocacy for Alice Marie Johnson |
| Dec 2021 | Passed California “baby bar” after multiple attempts |
| May (year reported) | Passed the MPRE |
| 2022 | Original target to take California bar; plan delayed by pandemic |
| Nov 8, 2025 | Announced she did not pass the California bar exam |
The timeline shows a multi-year pathway shaped by both planned milestones and external delays. Kardashian’s progression from public advocacy to formal exams involved episodic steps (baby bar, MPRE) that candidates typically must clear before full licensing. The absence of a disclosed exam score limits precise comparison with passing thresholds or cohort performance.
Reactions & Quotes
“Well… I’m not a lawyer yet, I just play a very well-dressed one on TV,” Kardashian wrote, framing the result with wry candor and a pledge to continue studying.
Kim Kardashian (Instagram)
When asked on a publicity segment about AI study tools, a co-star asked if she was “cheating,” and Kardashian replied that she uses tools like ChatGPT for legal questions but has found them fallible.
Teyana Taylor (interview context)
Legal educators and commentators have noted that while celebrity attention can highlight reform needs, professional exams and licensing rules aim to apply uniformly. Public reactions ranged from encouragement to scrutiny, with commentators focusing on both Kardashian’s persistence and the broader implications for licensing standards.
Unconfirmed
- The exact numeric score and how narrowly Kardashian missed passing the California bar exam have not been publicly disclosed.
- The degree to which generative AI directly contributed to incorrect answers on the exam or to her study outcomes is based on Kardashian’s reported experience and has not been independently verified.
- Any private accommodations, scheduling details or administrative communications with the California State Bar related to her application were not provided publicly and remain unconfirmed.
Bottom Line
Kim Kardashian’s announcement that she did not pass the California bar exam is a setback in a multi-year effort that has already included the baby bar and the MPRE. She has publicly committed to continuing her apprenticeship and study, framing the result as motivation rather than defeat. For observers, the episode clarifies that celebrity status does not replace the procedural, time-consuming demands of legal licensure.
Looking ahead, Kardashian’s next steps—whether a new study regimen, further use of supplemental tools or a rescheduled exam date—will test both her persistence and the broader conversations she has helped surface about access, nontraditional pathways into the profession and the place of AI in legal education. The state’s official results and any future announcements from Kardashian will provide clearer signals about timing and likelihood of eventual admission to practice.
Sources
- Los Angeles Times (news)