Reality television star and business mogul Kim Kardashian has announced she did not pass the California Bar Exam on her first attempt, forcing her to put her formal legal career on hold for now.
No Shortcuts: The Law Journey Continues
The 45-year-old, who currently stars in the critically-panned legal drama All's Fair, broke the news to her followers via her Instagram Stories. "I'm not a lawyer yet, I just play a very well-dressed one on TV," she wrote candidly.
Despite this setback, Kardashian's resolve appears unshaken. She emphasised her long-term commitment, stating: "Six years into this law journey, and I'm still all in until I pass the bar." She ruled out any shortcuts or giving up, promising instead more studying and heightened determination.
She framed the experience as a motivational tool, not a failure, adding: "Falling short isn't failure - it's fuel. I was so close to passing the exam and that only motivates me even more."
A Different Path to the Law
Kardashian's route into law has been unconventional. Rather than attending a traditional law school, she took advantage of a California provision that allows study under the supervision of a practising lawyer or judge.
She enrolled in an apprenticeship programme with a law firm in San Francisco in 2018 and celebrated completing it in May of this year. Reflecting on her decision, she said, "It was the wildest idea that I was going to law school, but to me it all makes sense."
Her professional legal interests also differ from those of her on-screen character. Earlier this week, she told the BBC she would not become a divorce lawyer, explaining she is "more into criminal justice and reform work."
Family Legacy and Reform Advocacy
Kardashian's passion for law is part of a family tradition. Her father, Robert Kardashian, was a successful attorney who practised for nearly a decade before moving into business. He is perhaps best known for reactivating his law license to join OJ Simpson's defence team during the infamous 1995 murder trial. Robert Kardashian died from oesophageal cancer in 2003, aged 59.
Kim Kardashian's own work in criminal justice reform first captured significant public attention in 2018. She successfully lobbied then-President Donald Trump for clemency for Alice Marie Johnson, who was serving a life sentence for a non-violent drug offence. Johnson's sentence was commuted in June 2018, and she received a full pardon in 2020.
Her advocacy continued in 2019 when she supported the "90 Days to Freedom" campaign, helping to secure the release of 17 individuals serving life terms for non-violent drug offences. She has also been a public supporter of the bipartisan First Step Act, which aims to reduce mandatory minimum sentences for first-time offenders.
While her legal qualification is delayed, Kardashian's dedication to her six-year journey and her impactful reform work signal that this is far more than a fleeting interest.
