Kim Kardashian disclosed on Saturday via Instagram that she did not pass the bar exam on her first attempt, but said the setback will not stop her pursuit of a law license. The 45-year-old, who stars in Ryan Murphy’s Hulu legal series All’s Fair, framed the result as part of a six-year legal apprenticeship that concluded this year. Kardashian noted past difficulty with the California “baby bar,” which she failed multiple times before passing in 2021, and vowed to keep studying until she succeeds. The outcome means she remains unlicensed for now but publicly reaffirmed her commitment to continue the effort.
Key Takeaways
- Kim Kardashian failed the bar exam on her first attempt, announcing the result on Instagram on Saturday; she is 45 years old.
- She described the setback as motivation, saying she has been studying law for six years and will continue until she passes.
- Kardashian previously failed the California “baby bar” three times before passing that exam in 2021 under California’s Law Office Study Program.
- Her late father, Robert Kardashian, was an attorney who represented O.J. Simpson during the 1995 murder trial — a fact she has referenced while discussing her legal ambitions.
- The American Bar Association estimates roughly 20% of test-takers fail the bar on their first attempt, a context Kardashian cited as part of her statement.
- In May she announced completion of her apprenticeship after six years, describing the ceremony as private and emotionally significant.
Background
California permits an apprenticeship route — the Law Office Study Program — that lets candidates pursue a legal career without attending traditional law school. That alternative requires supervised study under a licensed attorney and periodic reporting to the State Bar; participants must still pass the bar exam to become licensed lawyers. Kardashian has followed this path while maintaining a public career in entertainment and business, drawing attention to a less common route into the legal profession.
The “baby bar” (First-Year Law Students’ Exam) poses an early hurdle for many apprenticeship students; Kardashian has been open about failing it multiple times before clearing it in 2021. Her public profile and family history in law — her father, Robert Kardashian, was part of the O.J. Simpson defense team in 1995 — have made her progress unusually visible. That visibility has spurred broader discussion about nontraditional legal training, exam rigors and the pressures faced by high-profile candidates who pursue professional credentials while maintaining public careers.
Main Event
On Saturday Kardashian posted that she did not pass the bar on her first attempt and framed the result as a temporary setback rather than a final verdict on her legal ambitions. She referenced her role in the Hulu series All’s Fair and used the post to reiterate that her goal remains unchanged: to earn a law license. In remarks shared on Instagram she emphasized persistence, writing that she will return to study “with even more determination,” and thanked supporters for their encouragement.
The post followed a year in which Kardashian publicly completed the Law Office Study Program after six years of study, an accomplishment she celebrated in May with a private ceremony. She has previously described the process as lengthy and difficult, acknowledging multiple earlier failures on the baby bar. The immediate result of this recent exam means she is not yet qualified to practice, but she signaled plans to reattempt rather than abandoning the effort.
Observers noted how Kardashian’s public account of setbacks contrasts with typical coverage of bar passage, which usually focuses on aggregate statistics and law-school cohorts. Her openness about repeated attempts and continued study highlights the nonlinear path some candidates take toward licensure, particularly those using apprenticeship routes rather than traditional law schools. The episode prompted conversation across social platforms about resilience, exam prep and the demands of California’s alternative admission pathways.
Analysis & Implications
Kardashian’s high-profile attempt underscores several tensions in legal licensing: the balance between rigorous, standardized testing and alternative education pathways, and public perceptions when celebrities pursue professional credentials. Her experience could increase public interest in the Law Office Study Program and prompt debate about whether current exam formats fairly assess candidates from diverse training backgrounds. Law schools and bar administrators may face renewed questions about access, preparation resources and the supports available to nontraditional candidates.
From a regulatory standpoint, the result does not change statutory requirements: to practice law in California a candidate must pass the bar regardless of training route. However, a widely reported failure by a public figure can spotlight gaps in preparatory resources and could push institutions or private educators to offer more tailored programs for apprenticeship students. It may also influence how employers, mentors and the public view licensed professionals who followed nontraditional paths.
There are potential reputational effects for Kardashian herself and for the broader perception of the apprenticeship route. For some observers, her persistence reinforces the legitimacy of alternative training; for others, it raises questions about whether celebrity status affords advantages — such as access to tutors or publicity — that make comparisons to typical candidates imperfect. In policy terms, sustained attention might prompt research into pass rates for Law Office Study Program participants versus traditional law school graduates, and whether adjustments to support or assessment are warranted.
| Cohort | Noted first-attempt fail rate / Note |
|---|---|
| General test-takers (ABA reference) | Roughly 20% fail on first attempt (per ABA) |
| Kim Kardashian | Failed first bar attempt; will continue studying |
The table places Kardashian’s result beside a commonly cited first-attempt figure from the American Bar Association to give quick context. Aggregate pass/fail rates vary by state, exam administration and candidate background; the ABA figure is an approximate benchmark rather than a precise comparator for every cohort.
Reactions & Quotes
“Well… I’m not a lawyer yet, I just play a very well-dressed one on TV,” Kardashian wrote on Instagram, using the post to frame the outcome with humor and resolve.
Kim Kardashian (Instagram)
The American Bar Association notes that a substantial minority of examinees do not pass on their first attempt, a statistic often cited when discussing bar outcomes.
American Bar Association (statistic)
Fans and commentators responded across social platforms with messages of support and debate: some praised her resilience and candor, while others used the moment to discuss exam equity and paths into the profession. Legal educators noted the episode as a reminder that licensure is a demanding process for many candidates, regardless of their public profile.
Unconfirmed
- No public timetable was disclosed for when Kardashian intends to retake the bar, so her next exam date is unconfirmed.
- Specific score details and performance breakdowns from this exam have not been released, so exact gaps in subject mastery are not publicly known.
Bottom Line
Kim Kardashian’s announcement that she failed the bar on her first try is a high-profile reminder of how demanding licensure exams are, even for well-resourced and persistent candidates. Her public framing of the result as a motivator rather than defeat has already shaped the narrative, turning a private test score into a broader conversation about perseverance, alternative training paths, and exam preparation.
For policymakers and legal educators, the episode may spur closer attention to the supports available to apprenticeship students and to how pass-rate data are used in public discussion. For Kardashian, the immediate implication is clear: she remains committed to the goal and has signaled she will continue studying until she succeeds, keeping the story alive as she prepares for another attempt.
Sources
- The Seattle Times (news outlet — original story link)
- New York Daily News (news outlet — original reporting credited)
- American Bar Association (official/statistics — bar passage context)
- State Bar of California — Law Office Study Program (official guidance on apprenticeship pathway)