Last November, Kim Kardashian shared the frustrating news that she failed the bar exam.
She began studying to become a lawyer in 2019, inspired by her father, Robert Kardashian Sr.’s law career, and her own advocacy work, which began after Kim successfully convinced President Donald Trump to grant clemency to Alice Marie Johnson in 2018. She took the baby bar three times before passing on her fourth attempt in 2021 and later took the bar in July 2025.
“Well…I’m not a lawyer yet,” Kim wrote at the time. But she made it clear she wasn’t giving up. “Six years into this law journey, and I’m still all in until I pass the bar,” she said. “No shortcuts, no giving up – just more studying and even more determination.”
Since then, Kim has largely stayed quiet about her law journey, while focusing on filming her reality show, relaunching her beauty line, parenting her four children, and running her billion-dollar clothing company, Skims. But in a new interview with Complex, she was asked whether she still plans to retake the exam.
“Interestingly, I said going into it that I would never try again,” Kim said. “I called it a ‘one and done’ because of time and energy constraints. But the day after, I started studying again and haven’t stopped.”
That said, she made it clear that a retake isn’t happening any time soon. “One day, I’ll retake it. I don’t know when,” Kim said. “I have to find the time. But I don’t think I could live with myself if I don’t try again. I can’t pass up the opportunity. I didn’t come this far just to give up.”
Kim also revealed that she “came really close” to passing in November. “I just have to do better,” she continued. “I’m not one to make excuses. I could say I threw my back out that week, which I did, but it is what it is. I just didn’t perform well enough.”
And while she does plan to retake the test eventually, she suggested that she might keep the results private next time. “I think I’m going to keep my head down a bit more next time, and maybe not broadcast it to the world,” Kim said, adding, “Although, I didn’t really have a choice since they post the results live online, which is crazy to me. That pressure is insane, so I figured I should just post that I didn’t pass myself, since people would find out anyway.”
She went on to share all the encouraging words she received after failing the exam — including from former president Barack Obama. “Even at a charity dinner, Obama told me Michelle didn’t pass on her first try,” she said.
Obama wasn’t the only high-profile person to reach out, either. Kim said, “So many amazing attorneys and people I respect reached out, saying Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris also didn’t pass the first time.”
“So it’s not the end of the world,” she said, “but no excuses—you just do better.”
