Kim Kardashian’s Bar Exam Journey: 5 Biggest Hurdles She Overcame And Her Current Lawyer Status

Kim Kardashian’s highly-publicized journey to become an attorney in California remains one of the most compelling stories in celebrity and legal education today. As of December 18, 2025, the reality star and entrepreneur has successfully navigated the challenging "baby bar" and completed her four-year legal apprenticeship, yet she continues to face the final, formidable hurdle of the main California Bar Examination. Her commitment to the rigorous "reading the law" path—an alternative to traditional law school—demonstrates an inspiring level of perseverance and a deep dedication to criminal justice reform. The latest updates confirm that while she has achieved significant milestones, including conquering the notoriously difficult First-Year Law Students' Examination (FYLSE), the final step to full licensure has proven to be an immense challenge, even for someone with her resources and drive. This article breaks down her entire journey, her biggest accomplishments, and her current status as she prepares for her next attempt at the final bar exam.

Kim Kardashian: Biographical Profile and Legal Journey Milestones

Kim Kardashian, born Kimberly Noel Kardashian on October 21, 1980, in Los Angeles, California, is a media personality, socialite, model, and businesswoman. She first gained global recognition on the reality television series *Keeping Up with the Kardashians* and has since built a vast empire, including the shapewear company SKIMS and the beauty brand KKW Beauty (now SKKN by Kim). Her turn toward law was inspired by her late father, Robert Kardashian Sr., a renowned attorney who was part of the legal defense team for O. J. Simpson. Kim’s legal activism began in the late 2010s, focusing on criminal justice reform, notably advocating for the clemency of Alice Marie Johnson. * Full Name: Kimberly Noel Kardashian * Born: October 21, 1980 (Age 45 as of late 2025) * Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, U.S. * Education Path: High school diploma (no bachelor's degree required for the California apprenticeship path). * Legal Start Date: 2019 (Began her four-year apprenticeship). * Legal Path: "Reading the Law" Apprenticeship in California (Alternative to law school). * Apprenticeship Completion: May 2025 (Approximate completion of the required four years). * Key Exam Passed: First-Year Law Students' Examination (FYLSE or "Baby Bar") in 2021. * Current Status: Aspiring lawyer, focused on passing the main California Bar Exam. * Advocacy Focus: Criminal justice reform, clemency, and prison reform.

The Brutal Reality of the California “Baby Bar” Success

The most significant early victory in Kim Kardashian’s legal career was passing the First-Year Law Students' Examination (FYLSE), colloquially known as the "baby bar." This exam is a mandatory requirement for students pursuing the "reading the law" path in California and must be passed within three attempts to continue the program.

What is the Baby Bar?

The baby bar is administered by the State Bar of California and is equivalent to the first year of law school. It tests students on three core subjects: Contracts, Criminal Law, and Torts. Students must pass this exam before receiving credit for any further study in their apprenticeship. Kim Kardashian famously passed the baby bar on her fourth attempt in December 2021, after having failed the previous three. This success was a monumental moment, as it allowed her to officially receive credit for her first year of studies and continue her apprenticeship. Her passing score was a 560, a major achievement that proved her dedication was genuine and that the alternative path to law was viable for her. * Persistence Pays Off: Her ability to rebound after three failures—a public and documented struggle—is a testament to her work ethic. She called the experience "fuel" to work harder, a mindset she maintains today as she faces the final exam. * The Apprenticeship Track: California is one of only a handful of states that allows aspiring lawyers to skip traditional law school and "read the law" through a four-year apprenticeship under the supervision of a licensed attorney or judge. This path requires a minimum of 18 hours of study per week and five hours of direct supervision. Kim completed her apprenticeship with a San Francisco-based law firm, officially graduating from the program in 2025.

The Final Gauntlet: Kim’s Main California Bar Exam Status

Having completed her legal studies and passed the baby bar, Kim Kardashian is now focused entirely on the main, comprehensive California Bar Examination. The California Bar is widely considered one of the most difficult bar exams in the United States, with pass rates often hovering around 50% for all takers.

Recent Attempts and Determination

The most recent public updates indicate that Kim took the final, two-day California Bar Exam in July 2025, with results typically released in November of that year. She has been open about the immense difficulty of the test, which involves five one-hour essay questions, a 90-minute performance test, and 200 multiple-choice questions over two days. While she has not yet achieved the final passing score, her public statements following a recent setback have been characterized by unwavering resolve. She acknowledged being "bummed" and frustrated but quickly pivoted to a positive outlook, vowing to continue studying and retake the exam at the next available opportunity. * The Test Structure: The main bar exam is a grueling assessment of a candidate’s competency across a vast array of legal subjects, including Constitutional Law, Evidence, Civil Procedure, and more. * Perseverance Over Celebrity: Her willingness to publicize her failures—both the three initial baby bar attempts and her recent main bar setbacks—has earned her respect from many in the legal community. It demystifies the process and highlights the sheer difficulty of the exam, regardless of one's background or fame. * Future Focus: Having completed the four-year apprenticeship, Kim is now eligible to take the California Bar Exam as many times as necessary to pass. Her ultimate goal is to practice law, focusing her efforts on systemic criminal justice reform, a cause she has championed for years.

The LSI Keywords and Topical Authority Entities in Kim's Legal World

Kim Kardashian’s legal journey is rich with topical authority, touching on key entities and concepts in the legal education world. Understanding these elements is crucial to appreciating the magnitude of her undertaking: * Criminal Justice Reform: The driving force behind her legal aspirations, advocating for clemency and challenging wrongful convictions. * Alice Marie Johnson: The case that launched her high-profile advocacy, resulting in clemency after Johnson served decades for a non-violent drug offense. * Robert Kardashian Sr.: Her late father, a famous attorney whose legacy inspires her. * FYLSE (First-Year Law Students' Examination): The official name of the "baby bar," a mandatory checkpoint for non-law school students. * Reading the Law: The California-specific legal apprenticeship program, a non-traditional path. * Apprenticeship Program: The four-year, structured study under a licensed attorney. * The State Bar of California: The governing body that administers both exams and grants licenses. * Constitutional Law and Torts: Core subjects on both the baby bar and the main bar exam. * SKIMS and KKW Beauty/SKKN: Her major business ventures, which she manages while pursuing her legal studies. * Allura Grant: The divorce attorney character she plays on TV, a nod to her real-life legal interest. Kim Kardashian’s legal pursuit is more than a celebrity whim; it is a long-term, arduous commitment to a demanding profession. Her success in passing the baby bar and completing her apprenticeship are major accomplishments. While the final bar exam remains a challenge, her declared commitment to retaking it confirms that her journey to becoming a fully licensed attorney is far from over.