Kim K's Bar Exam Journey: Not a Lawyer Yet, But No Giving Up!

Kim Kardashian recently shared she didn't pass the California bar exam, but her legal journey is far from over. She's also making waves on TV as a "very well-dressed" lawyer, despite mixed reviews for her new show.

TL;DR: Quick Takes on Kim K's Legal Update

• Kim Kardashian revealed she failed the California bar exam, vowing to keep studying and emphasizing that "falling short isn't failure."
• She's currently starring as a lawyer in Ryan Murphy's new Hulu series, All's Fair, which has received scathing critical reviews but is reportedly a hit with viewers.
• Kardashian admitted to using ChatGPT to help with her law studies, though she claims the AI often gave her wrong answers and made her "fail tests."

Imagine getting legal advice from an AI bot, only for it to repeatedly lead you astray, making you "fail tests all the time." That's exactly what Kim Kardashian says happened to her during her rigorous law studies, even as she prepared for the California Bar Exam.

The reality TV icon, business mogul, and aspiring attorney recently revealed she did not pass the California bar exam she took in July. Sharing the news herself on Instagram on Saturday, November 8, 2025, just before the results were publicly released, Kardashian remained characteristically transparent and determined.

"Well… I’m not a lawyer yet, I just play a very well-dressed one on TV," she wrote, mixing humor with her serious pursuit. Her message made it clear this isn't the end of her legal ambitions: "Six years into this law journey, and I’m still all in until I pass the bar. No shortcuts, no giving up—just more studying and even more determination."

The Long and Winding Road to Becoming an Attorney

Kardashian's legal journey began in 2018 when she embarked on an apprenticeship with a San Francisco law firm, opting for this non-traditional route instead of enrolling in law school. California is one of only a handful of states that allows aspiring lawyers to take the bar exam after completing an apprenticeship with a practicing attorney or judge.

Her path hasn't been without its hurdles. She famously passed the "baby bar," officially known as the First-Year Law Students’ Examination, in 2021 after two previous failed attempts. One of those attempts even saw her battling COVID-19 with a "104 fever" during the exam. More recently, in March, she successfully passed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE), another prerequisite to becoming a licensed attorney.

Despite the original program being four years, pandemic delays and her demanding work schedule meant Kardashian officially graduated from her law program in May of this year, after six years. The aspiration to practice law runs in the family, as her late father, Robert Kardashian Sr., was a high-profile Los Angeles attorney known for his role on O.J. Simpson’s "Dream Team" during the 1995 murder trial.

Kardashian has a clear vision for her future legal career. She told The Hollywood Reporter that her "ultimate goal is to open up a firm that hires formerly incarcerated people." In a decade, she hopes to "give up being Kim K and be a trial lawyer," a challenging and impactful role she deeply desires.

Some might question the legitimacy of pursuing a legal career through an apprenticeship rather than a traditional law school. However, Kardashian has preemptively addressed such concerns. She stated in a 2019 interview, "I want people to understand that there is nothing that should limit your pursuit of your dreams, and the accomplishment of new goals. You can create your own lanes, just as I am." This underlines her belief in carving out unique paths to achieve one's aspirations. (Source: Vogue, May 2019 issue)

From Reality TV Star to Criminal Justice Reform Advocate

Kardashian's passion for law isn't merely about personal achievement; it's deeply rooted in her commitment to criminal justice reform. Her involvement in advocacy predates her formal studies and has been a driving force behind her legal education.

One of the most widely recognized instances of her advocacy involved Alice Marie Johnson. In 2018, Johnson was serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense. Kardashian tirelessly lobbied then-President Donald Trump, bringing Johnson’s case to public attention and directly to the White House. Her efforts were successful, leading to Johnson's sentence being commuted in 2018 and a full pardon two years later. This hands-on experience in the justice system solidified Kardashian’s desire to formally study law.

She also released a 2020 docuseries, "Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project," which spotlighted specific cases to highlight issues around mass incarceration. More recently, she's advocated for the release of Lyle and Erik Menendez, arguing for new trials and clemency from California Governor Gavin Newsom, citing allegations of abuse. Kardashian expressed in a 2019 interview that she needed "to know more" so she "could do more" and "fight to fix" a system she felt could be vastly improved. (Source: Vogue, May 2019 issue)

While she currently portrays a divorce attorney on TV, Kardashian has stated she finds criminal justice and reform work more compelling. She told the BBC earlier this week, "I don’t think I can ever really do family law," indicating her focus will likely remain on systemic change rather than individual divorce cases.

All's Fair: A Television Lawyer, Critically Panned, But Popular?

Even as she navigates her real-life legal challenges, Kardashian is stepping into a lawyer's shoes on the small screen. She stars as divorce attorney Allura Grant in Ryan Murphy’s new Hulu legal drama, All's Fair, alongside a stellar cast including Glenn Close, Teyana Taylor, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, and Sarah Paulson.

However, the show's critical reception has been, to put it mildly, brutal. Variety described it as a "clumsy, condescending take on rah-rah girlboss feminism," while The Guardian went so far as to call it "so awful, it feels almost contemptuous." Kevin Fallon of The Daily Beast found it "astonishingly bad," likening it to "an abomination of this dystopian scale," though he admitted its badness felt "almost invigorating." The Hollywood Reporter’s critic noted Kardashian’s acting as "stiff and affectless without a single authentic note." (Source: Variety, The Guardian, The Daily Beast, The Hollywood Reporter).

Kardashian, ever the savvy media personality, has brushed off the hate with humor. She playfully asked her 354 million Instagram followers if they had "tuned into the most critically acclaimed show of the year!?!?!?," sharing screenshots of comments suggesting that the negative publicity was actually driving viewers to watch it for themselves. One critic she highlighted even questioned, "does a show need to be good? and the answer is no, it doesn’t."

Interestingly, despite the critical drubbing, All's Fair is reportedly the No. 1 show on Hulu. This presents a fascinating tradeoff: a show can be critically reviled yet still capture a massive audience. It highlights the often-wide gap between critical reception and popular appeal, proving that for some audiences, entertainment value transcends traditional measures of "good" television.

The Unexpected Study Buddy: ChatGPT

Perhaps one of the most surprising revelations from Kardashian’s recent media appearances is her admission about her study methods. During a November 3 appearance on Vanity Fair’s Lie Detector Test series with her All's Fair costar Teyana Taylor, Kardashian revealed she used ChatGPT to assist with her legal studies.

Her experience, however, was far from ideal. "I use it for legal advice. So when I am needing to know the answer to a question, I’ll take a picture and snap it and put it in there," she explained. But when Taylor jokingly asked if that was "cheating," Kardashian quickly countered, "They’re always wrong. It has made me fail tests all the time."

Her frustration with the AI even led to some memorable (and relatable) interactions. "I’ll get mad and I’ll yell at it, ‘You made me fail! Why did you do this?’ And it will talk back to me." The AI's response was almost sarcastic, she recalled: "This is just teaching you to trust your own instincts. You knew the answers all along." (Source: E! Online, November 4, 2025). It seems even for billionaires, AI still has some learning to do when it comes to complex legal reasoning!

Practical Takeaways from Kim K's Legal Journey

• Perseverance is Key: Despite multiple attempts and setbacks with both the baby bar and the main bar exam, Kardashian's commitment to her goal remains unwavering, highlighting the importance of determination.
• Non-Traditional Paths Are Valid: California's apprenticeship program offers a viable alternative to law school, demonstrating that there isn't just one route to achieving professional dreams.
• Balancing Public Persona and Personal Ambition: Kardashian successfully juggles a demanding public career and personal life with a serious, long-term educational pursuit and significant advocacy work.
• Audience Appeal Can Trump Critical Reception: The success of All's Fair on Hulu despite widespread critical disdain shows that popular appeal and critical acclaim don't always align.
• AI Tools Are Aids, Not Replacements: While helpful for some tasks, relying solely on AI for complex, nuanced fields like law can lead to inaccuracies, reinforcing the need to trust one's own instincts and critical thinking.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kim Kardashian's Legal Pursuit

When did Kim Kardashian fail the California bar exam? Kim Kardashian took the California bar exam in July 2025 and revealed she did not pass on Saturday, November 8, 2025. What is the show "All's Fair" about? All's Fair is a new Hulu legal drama from Ryan Murphy, featuring an all-female law firm. Kim Kardashian stars as divorce attorney Allura Grant alongside an A-list cast. What is the California "baby bar"? The "baby bar" is officially called the First-Year Law Students’ Examination. It's an exam required for those pursuing a legal education through an apprenticeship or unaccredited law school programs, which Kim Kardashian passed in 2021 after three attempts. Does Kim Kardashian still want to be a lawyer? Absolutely! Despite this setback, Kim Kardashian has stated she is "still all in until I pass the bar" and remains determined to achieve her goal of becoming a licensed attorney.

Sources:

• E! Online, "Kim Kardashian blames ChatGPT for failing her law exams," November 4, 2025.
• E! Online, "Kim Kardashian's bar results revealed after law school program," November 8, 2025.
• Los Angeles Times, "Kim Kardashian misses the mark on the California bar exam, vows to keep trying," November 8, 2025.
• NBC News, "Kim Kardashian vows not to give up on law dream after failing bar exam," November 9, 2025.
• The Cut (New York Magazine), "So … Did Kim Kardashian Pass the Bar?", November 9, 2025.
• The Independent, "Kim Kardashian fails California Bar Exam and vows to keep trying," November 8, 2025.
• TODAY.com, "Kim Kardashian reveals she was ‘so close’ to passing the bar exam," November 8, 2025.
• The Hollywood Reporter, "Don't Call Kim Kardashian a Lawyer Yet," November 8, 2025.
• Vogue, "The Awakening of Kim Kardashian West," May 2019 issue.