So, you probably saw the photos. Kim Kardashian in a cap and gown, smiling in a backyard, holding a certificate that basically says she’s finished her legal studies. But let’s be real for a second: a lot of people were confused. Was it a real law school? Did she actually pass the bar? Is she officially a lawyer now?
The short answer is: she’s finished the coursework, but she isn't a licensed attorney yet.
Kim’s path to the Kim Kardashian law school graduation moment wasn’t exactly "Elle Woods goes to Harvard." It was way more complicated, involved way more crying over "hearsay exceptions," and took six years instead of the usual three.
The "Reading the Law" Loophole (That Isn't a Loophole)
Most people think you have to go to an accredited law school to become a lawyer. In most states, that's true. But California is one of the few places that allows something called the Law Office Study Program. Basically, it's an apprenticeship. Instead of sitting in a lecture hall at Stanford or UCLA, you study under a practicing attorney or a judge.
Kim started this back in 2018. She was mentored by lawyers Jessica Jackson and Erin Haney. The requirements are actually pretty brutal. You have to put in 18 hours of supervised study every single week, 48 weeks a year.
Initially, this was supposed to be a four-year program. But life happened. Between running SKIMS, filming The Kardashians, raising four kids, and a global pandemic, those four years turned into six. By the time May 21, 2025, rolled around, Kim had clocked over 5,100 hours of legal study. That’s when she finally had her "graduation" ceremony in her backyard.
👉 See also: Pat Lalama Journalist Age: Why Experience Still Rules the Newsroom
Why the "Baby Bar" Almost Ended Everything
If you followed her journey on the show, you know the "Baby Bar" (the First-Year Law Students' Examination) was her biggest hurdle.
California requires apprenticeship students to pass this exam after their first year of study to even be allowed to continue. It’s notoriously difficult. The pass rate is usually around 20%. Kim failed it three times. On the third try, she actually had COVID-19 with a 104-degree fever. Honestly, most people would have quit right there.
She eventually passed on her fourth attempt in late 2021. If she hadn't passed that specific time, she would have lost credit for all the work she’d already done. It was high stakes. Passing that was the "green light" she needed to finish the rest of her 5,000+ hours.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Graduation
Here is the thing about the Kim Kardashian law school graduation that happened in May 2025: it was a celebration of finishing the program, not a license to practice.
In the legal world, there are three big milestones for people on this path:
✨ Don't miss: Why Sexy Pictures of Mariah Carey Are Actually a Masterclass in Branding
- Passing the MPRE: This is the ethics exam. Kim passed this in early 2025.
- Completing the Apprenticeship: This is what she celebrated with her family. It means she has officially learned the material required by the State Bar of California.
- Passing the California Bar Exam: This is the big one. The two-day monster test.
In November 2025, Kim shared some vulnerable news on Instagram. She had taken the July 2025 bar exam and... she didn't pass. She mentioned she was "so close" to a passing score, but in the world of the Bar, "close" doesn't get you a license.
She’s currently still in the "study and retake" phase as of 2026. She even joked about it, saying she "plays a well-dressed lawyer on TV" (referring to her role in the Hulu legal drama All’s Fair) but is still working on the real-life title.
The Reality of the 18-Hour Work Week
We often see the glamorous side of her life, but her mentors have been vocal about how much work went into this. Imagine trying to memorize the nuances of Constitutional Law—a subject she admitted she "fucking hated"—while managing a billion-dollar brand.
- 5,184 hours: Total time spent studying.
- No shortcuts: She couldn't just buy the degree; the State Bar tracks every hour.
- Flashcards as decor: At her graduation party, she literally used her old study notes as place settings. Kinda nerdy, kinda iconic.
Is She Actually Going to Practice Law?
Kim has been clear that her goal isn't just to have the "Esq." after her name for clout. She’s been heavily involved in criminal justice reform since 2018, famously helping Alice Marie Johnson get clemency. She has stated she wants to eventually start her own law firm that focuses on prison reform.
She’s even mentioned that she might "give up being Kim K" in ten years to just be a full-time lawyer. Whether you love her or hate her, you've gotta respect the hustle of someone who already has everything choosing to spend six years studying torts and contracts just because they want to.
🔗 Read more: Lindsay Lohan Leak: What Really Happened with the List and the Scams
What You Can Learn from Kim's Journey
If you’re looking at Kim’s path and thinking about your own career shift, there are some pretty solid takeaways here.
First, the traditional path isn't the only path. If you live in California, Virginia, Vermont, or Washington, you can technically "read the law" just like she did. It's harder in many ways because you don't have the structure of a school, but it's possible.
Second, failure isn't a dead end. Failing the baby bar three times and the actual bar exam once (so far) would crush most people's spirit. But she's treated it as "fuel."
Actionable Next Steps for Aspiring "Non-Traditional" Students:
- Check your state's rules: Look up "Reading the Law" requirements in your specific state. Most require at least a few years of college credits first.
- Find a mentor: If you're going the apprenticeship route, you need a lawyer with several years of experience who is willing to report your hours to the Bar.
- Prepare for the MPRE early: Don't wait until the end of your studies to take the ethics exam. It's a prerequisite that you can knock out while you're still in the thick of it.
- Embrace the "Baby Bar": If your state requires a first-year exam, treat it like the final boss. It’s designed to weed people out, so over-studying is the only way through.
Kim's journey shows that even with all the money in the world, you can't shortcut certain things. You still have to sit in the chair and do the reading. She’s finished the race; now she just needs to clear that final Bar hurdle to make it official.