It’s a classic “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation for Kim Kardashian, as the billionaire mogul and reality star is facing online jokes and criticism after reportedly deciding to pause her pursuit of the California bar exam following last year’s unsuccessful attempt.
On May 5, insider reports revealed that The Kardashians star decided to skip the February California bar exam and reportedly has no plans to take the July test either. Sources say the fashion mogul may wait until 2027 before attempting the exam again.
Kardashian has only taken the California bar exam once so far, though she famously needed four attempts to pass California’s “baby bar” exam in 2021, a requirement tied to her legal apprenticeship path. Last November, Kardashian revealed she failed the California bar after taking it in July.
The reality star—who also plays an attorney in Ryan Murphy’s All’s Fair—joked on Instagram, “I’m not a lawyer yet. I just play a very well-dressed one on TV.” She added that after six years on her law journey, she still plans to keep pushing forward with “no shortcuts” and even more determination.
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Amid the news, social media is sounding off with mixed responses as some are applauding the working mom of four for even attempting the challenging feat despite how successful she already is. But there are many others who appear to find her latest setback amusing and proof that there are some things in life that even the most money can’t buy.
“I’m surprised someone who got that rich as a self-made entrepreneur can’t pass the bar exam. Maybe I overestimate the IQ it takes to make a lot of money,” one X user wrote.
“Passing the bar is not about IQ so much, it’s the ability to study 15-20 areas of law and be tested on the intricacies of each over two days, it’s more a feat of discipline, effort, and IQ. If you don’t take it seriously you will not pass any state bar,” another user explained.
One user on X came to Kim Kardashian’s defense, pointing out just how notoriously difficult the California bar exam is to pass.
“Fu*k these headlines for making me defend a kardashian,” the user quipped. “she failed the baby bar that allows her to do work study versus going to law school twice before passing. she has only taken the actual bar one time. CA is known as being one of (or maybe the) hardest bar exam to pass.”
However, the criticism kept on coming, with one X user calling Kardashian’s latest law degree setback a “Rare win for Meritocracy in a country that loves giving rich people whatever they want.”
The SKIMS founder has said her desire to become a lawyer was inspired by her growing involvement in criminal justice reform and prison advocacy work. Over the years, she has helped bring attention to several high-profile clemency and wrongful conviction cases, including lobbying politicians and working alongside attorneys to help secure reduced sentences for incarcerated individuals. Kardashian has also spoken about wanting to follow in the footsteps of her late father, Robert Kardashian, who was a well-known attorney. She has described studying law as a way to use her platform for something bigger than entertainment and fashion.
For many following Kardashian’s legal journey, the decision to step back didn’t come as a huge surprise. Last year, she admitted the failed bar exam attempt seriously impacted her confidence, telling Time magazine she felt “uncomfortable and not confident for a while” after getting the results.
Kardashian has also been open about the emotional and physical toll of studying for the exam on The Kardashians, revealing she felt overwhelmed, exhausted, and mentally drained while preparing for the notoriously difficult test.
