Kim Kardashian Says She Was Close to Passing the California Bar Exam

Kim Kardashian is once again proving her determination as she continues her long journey toward becoming a licensed attorney in California. Despite falling short of passing the state’s notoriously difficult bar exam this summer, the reality star and entrepreneur said she remains more motivated than ever to achieve her goal.

In a heartfelt post shared on Instagram, Kardashian wrote that she was “so close” to passing the bar, adding that the setback only fuels her drive. “Six years into this law journey, and I’m still all in until I pass the bar,” she wrote. “No shortcuts, no giving up — just more studying and even more determination.” The 45-year-old also poked fun at her new television role, saying, “I might not be a lawyer yet, but I play a very well-dressed one on TV.”

A Personal Mission and Legal Passion

Kardashian’s legal aspirations are deeply personal. Her father, Robert Kardashian Sr., was a well-known Los Angeles attorney, best remembered for his role on O.J. Simpson’s defense team during the 1995 murder trial of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. He died in 2003 after battling cancer, but his legacy continues to influence his daughter’s path.

Instead of attending traditional law school, Kardashian registered with the California State Bar’s Law Office Study Program — a lesser-known apprenticeship track that allows candidates to study under the supervision of a practicing attorney or judge. In a 2019 Instagram post, she explained that she had not completed college and was 15 credits short of graduating, but that this alternative route would require 18 hours of weekly study and monthly exams for four years.

Her persistence paid off in 2021, when she passed the “baby bar,” or First-Year Law Students’ Examination, after three attempts — one of which she took while battling COVID-19 and a 104-degree fever. That milestone marked a major step forward in her unconventional pursuit of a law career.

Advocacy Beyond the Courtroom

Even without a law degree, Kardashian has used her platform to advocate for criminal justice reform. She famously helped secure the release of Alice Marie Johnson, a grandmother serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense, after appealing directly to then-President Donald Trump in 2018. Johnson’s case helped bring national attention to clemency and sentencing reform.

Kardashian continued her activism with the 2020 docuseries Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project, highlighting cases of unfair sentencing and mass incarceration. More recently, she has supported efforts to revisit the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers convicted of killing their parents in 1989. She argued that their claims of long-term abuse and lack of key evidence at trial warranted a new hearing, writing that they were “denied a fair second trial.”

The Menendez brothers’ requests for parole have been denied, but their legal team continues to seek a new trial and clemency from California Governor Gavin Newsom. Kardashian has said she plans to keep advocating for reform “as long as people continue to be unjustly punished.”

Balancing Law, Business, and Hollywood

While continuing her studies, Kardashian manages her multibillion-dollar shapewear brand SKIMS and has ventured into acting. She stars in All’s Fair, a new series by Ryan Murphy about an all-female law firm, where she plays high-profile divorce attorney Allura Grant. The show has received mixed reviews, with The Hollywood Reporter calling Kardashian’s performance “stiff and affectless,” though some critics noted her growing confidence on screen.

Despite the criticism, Kardashian said the project reflects her interest in law and female empowerment. Between her studies, activism, and media career, she has embraced a schedule that few could juggle. “This journey has taught me discipline and patience,” she wrote. “Every step, even the setbacks, gets me closer.”

For Kardashian, the dream of becoming a lawyer isn’t just about following in her father’s footsteps — it’s about using her influence to reshape conversations around justice, reform, and redemption.