Did Kim Kardashian Pass the Bar? Her Law Career Timeline
For years, the question “Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar?” has followed the reality star as she juggles television fame, business empires, and a very public legal education. The answer is more layered than a simple yes or no — it involves a timeline of attempts, a unique California apprenticeship program, and a recent decision to pause her bar exam journey.
Baby bar attempts: 4 ·
Baby bar passes: 1 ·
Full bar attempts: 1 ·
Full bar pass: No ·
Latest decision: Skipping 2026 exams
Quick snapshot
- Passed the baby bar on her fourth attempt in December 2021 (Cosmopolitan)
- Failed the full California bar exam in July 2025 (TMZ)
- Skipped the February 2026 bar exam (Primetimer)
- Whether she will attempt the bar exam again after 2026
- Her exact score on the July 2025 full bar exam
- Whether she plans to eventually practice law or is stepping away entirely
- Passed baby bar: December 2021 (Cosmopolitan)
- First full bar attempt: July 2025 (fail) (TMZ)
- Announced no 2026 exams: May 2026 (TMZ)
- Possible attempt in February 2027 — registration deadline is January 4, 2027 (TMZ)
- No exams scheduled for 2026 (Primetimer)
Seven key facts about Kim Kardashian’s bar journey, drawn from verified reports:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kimberly Noel Kardashian |
| Law program | California Law Office Study Program (apprenticeship) |
| Baby bar attempts | 4 |
| Baby bar pass date | December 2021 |
| Full bar attempts | 1 (July 2025) |
| Full bar result | Failed |
| Current status | Not taking bar exam in 2026 |
Did Kim Kardashian ever get a law degree?
Kim Kardashian’s education background
Kim Kardashian did not attend law school and does not hold a law degree. She graduated from high school and attended a brief stint at Pierce College in Los Angeles but never completed a traditional undergraduate or law degree (Cosmopolitan).
The alternative path: reading the law
Instead, she is pursuing a legal career through California’s Law Office Study Program — an apprenticeship that allows candidates to “read the law” under a licensed attorney. The program requires four years of supervised study before one can sit for the full bar exam (Cosmopolitan). Kim completed her four-year apprenticeship in May 2025, making her eligible for the full bar (Primetimer).
Kim’s path is rare: fewer than 200 people in California currently use the apprenticeship route, and it demands far more self-discipline than a structured law school environment.
The implication: Kim’s choice underscores the difficulty of pursuing law without a traditional academic foundation.
How many times has Kim Kardashian taken the bar exam?
Baby bar exam attempts
Kim took the California baby bar — the First-Year Law Students’ Exam — four times. She failed the first three attempts (July 2021, later 2021, and another in 2021) before passing on her fourth try in December 2021 (Cosmopolitan). She later posted on Instagram: “I failed this exam 3 times in 2 years, but I got back up each time and studied harder.”
Full California bar exam attempt
After completing her apprenticeship, Kim sat for the full California bar exam for the first time in July 2025. In November 2025, she announced she did not pass (TMZ). She did not take the exam in February 2026, and in May 2026 she confirmed she would not sit for the July 2026 exam either
The California bar exam is widely considered one of the hardest in the US, with a first-time pass rate of about 40%.
The pattern: Kim has attempted bar exams five total times, passed only one (the baby bar), and is now on a multi-year break.
Why did Kim Kardashian quit as a lawyer?
Kim’s own statements about her law journey
Kim has not officially abandoned her pursuit of a legal career. She has repeatedly stated her dream of becoming a trial lawyer and expressed determination after each failure (TMZ). However, she has not taken a bar exam since July 2025.
Recent reports on her decision to step back
In May 2026, she confirmed she would skip both bar exam windows that year. TMZ reported that she was “not taking the bar exam this year” and that a planned attempt would not happen before February 2027 at the earliest. While some interpreted the pause as a sign of giving up, Kim’s team framed it as a strategic decision to better prepare.
Kim faces a conflict between her public commitments — reality TV, fashion brands, criminal justice advocacy — and the intense, focused study needed to pass the notoriously difficult California bar, which has a pass rate around 40% for first-timers.
The catch: Without a clear timeline for retaking the exam, the line between “pausing” and “quitting” remains blurry.
What is the baby bar exam?
Definition and purpose
The baby bar (officially the First-Year Law Students’ Exam) is a one-day test required for California apprenticeship students after their first year of study. It covers three subjects: contracts, criminal law, and torts (Cosmopolitan). Passing it allows the student to continue the apprenticeship path.
How it differs from the full bar exam
The full California bar exam is a two-day, 12-hour test covering 13 subjects. It is widely considered one of the hardest bar exams in the United States, with a first-time pass rate of about 40–50% compared to the baby bar’s 15–20% pass rate (Cosmopolitan). Kim struggled with the baby bar for two years before finally passing; the full bar proved even more challenging.
Which Kardashian failed the bar exam?
Kim Kardashian’s failed attempts
Kim Kardashian is the only member of the Kardashian-Jenner family who has attempted the bar exam. She failed the baby bar three times and the full bar once. No other family member has pursued a law career (Cosmopolitan).
Other family members’ legal journeys
While Kim’s sister Kourtney and Khloé have dabbled in business and reality TV, none have studied law or taken any bar exam. Kim’s legal ambitions appear to be a solo endeavor within the family.
Timeline of Kim Kardashian’s bar exam journey
- 2019: Announced she was studying law under the California Law Office Study Program (Cosmopolitan)
- July 2021: First baby bar attempt — failed (Cosmopolitan)
- Late 2021: Second and third baby bar attempts — failed (Cosmopolitan)
- December 2021: Fourth baby bar attempt — passed (Cosmopolitan)
- May 2025: Completed the four-year apprenticeship (Primetimer)
- July 2025: First full California bar exam — failed (TMZ)
- February 2026: Did not sit for the bar (Primetimer)
- May 2026: Announced she would not take the July 2026 exam (TMZ)
The timeline shows a pattern of persistence and strategic pauses.
Confirmed facts vs. What remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Kim failed the baby bar three times before passing in December 2021 (Cosmopolitan)
- She took the full California bar exam in July 2025 and did not pass (TMZ)
- She did not take the bar in February 2026 and has stated she will not take it in July 2026 (Primetimer)
- She dedicated over 5,184 hours to study over six years (Cosmopolitan)
What remains unclear
- Whether Kim will attempt the bar exam again in the future
- Whether she has completely abandoned her law career
- Her exact score on the full bar exam — no official results have been released by the California State Bar
The gaps in public knowledge leave room for speculation.
Quotes from Kim and the media
“I failed this exam 3 times in 2 years, but I got back up each time and studied harder.”
– Kim Kardashian, Instagram (via Cosmopolitan)
“Kim announced she fell short of passing the bar in November 2025 and thanked supporters.”
– TMZ report
“Kim took the California Bar exam for the first time in July 2025 after four baby bar attempts.”
Related reading: Kim Kardashian’s lawyer timeline · Kim Kardashian bar exam deferral plans
Frequently asked questions
Is Kim Kardashian a licensed attorney?
No. She is not a licensed attorney. She has passed only the baby bar, which allows her to continue studying but does not grant a license to practice law.
What is the California Law Office Study Program?
It is an alternative pathway to becoming a lawyer in California that does not require law school. Candidates study under a licensed attorney for four years and must pass the baby bar after the first year.
How long does it take to become a lawyer through the apprenticeship path?
Typically four years of study, followed by passing the full bar exam. Many apprenticeship students take longer because they study part-time.
Did Kim Kardashian receive any law school credit?
No. She has not attended law school, so she does not have any law school credits. Her education comes entirely from the apprenticeship program.
Who is Kim Kardashian’s law tutor?
Her mentor is Jessica Jackson, a human rights attorney and co-founder of #cut50, a criminal justice reform organization (Cosmopolitan).
What score did Kim need to pass the baby bar?
The baby bar requires a scaled score of 560 out of 1000 to pass. Exact scores for individual attempts have not been made public.
Can Kim Kardashian practice law without passing the bar?
No. To practice law in California, a person must pass the full bar exam and be certified by the State Bar of California. Even with a law degree, passing the bar is mandatory.
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