Can I pass the California bar exam?

Asked by: Bret Heathcote III  |  Last update: January 6, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (46 votes)

To pass the exam in the first phase of grading, an applicant must have a total scale score (after one reading) of at least 1390 out of 2000 possible points. Those with total scale scores after one reading below 1350 fail the exam.

How difficult is it to pass the California bar exam?

Is The California Bar Exam Hard? Yes, the California bar exam is widely considered to be the most difficult of all state bar exams in the US. The California bar exam has a pass rate of 34%.

Can anybody take the California bar exam?

Eligibility. To be eligible to take the California Bar Examination, you should have completed at least two years of college before beginning your law studies or passed certain specified College Level Equivalency Program examinations.

Can you pass the bar without going to law school in California?

In California, qualified applicants can take the bar exam without going to law school. Most law schools require a college degree, but some may only ask for equivalent course work, and some law schools focus on your legal interest and life experiences and not on your grades or LSAT scores.

What state has the easiest bar exam?

Overall, Utah is the easiest bar exam to pass. This is true whether you are a first-time taker or repeat taker! In July 2023, Utah had a 94% pass rate for first time takers and a 73% pass rate for repeat takers. It also has the lowest UBE cut score of 260.

California Bar Exam: Everything You Need to Know (Subjects, Structure, and More)

34 related questions found

Who is the youngest person to pass the bar exam in California?

Teenage siblings break records passing the California bar exam : NPR. Teenage siblings break records passing the California bar exam Sophia Park has become the youngest person to pass the California bar exam at 17 years, 8 months old.

What is the easiest state to become a lawyer in?

Going by the 2021 bar exam passing rates, Wyoming has the easiest bar exam to pass. However, we don't really get the full picture by just looking at the passing rates. Each state's bar exam can differ in difficulty and content.

What type of lawyer makes the most money?

Patent Attorney Salary

Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.

Are you a lawyer after you pass the bar exam?

Attorneys, lawyers, and counsel have all been educated and trained in law. As explained above, attorneys must pass the bar exam and practice law in court. Lawyers have also taken the bar exam, and may or may not practice law. Counsels provide legal advice, and often work for an organization or corporation.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam?

Kim Kardashian learned very quickly how hard bar exams can be. The California state bar is one of the most difficult states to pass, with a 40-50% pass rate. The first attempt rate, the second attempt, and after the third time, she finally passed!

Does California bar exam expire?

State Bar rules set a five-year expiration date on a passing bar exam score by requiring that, within “five years from the last day of administration of the California Bar Examination the applicant passes,” the applicant must meet all requirements for certification to the California Supreme Court for admission and must ...

Which state bar exam is the hardest?

Which bar exam is hardest? California is considered by many to be the most difficult bar exam. It has a relatively low pass rate and a relatively high minimum passing score and covers a lot of state law.

How many months to study for California bar exam?

Most bar examinees prepare for the bar exam in 8–12 weeks. That means that they generally start studying 2-3 months before the bar exam.

Can I take the bar exam for fun?

Most states (not all) require you to have a J.D. to sit for the bar exam (or be sufficiently close in credits to having a J.D.). The exam is not free and no matter how brilliant you are, you're not going to pass without good preparation.

Can lawyers make 300k a year?

Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for attorneys in the US is just over $125,000. The highest-paid lawyers (10% of the legal workforce) make over $208,000 However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500,000 or more per year.

What field of law is most in demand?

Which Legal Fields Are in Demand?
  • Intellectual property law. ...
  • Family law. ...
  • Immigration & naturalization law. ...
  • Real estate law. ...
  • Contract management. ...
  • Compliance. ...
  • Labor and employment. ...
  • Corporate transactions. Also known as mergers and acquisitions, or M&A, this work navigates the buying and selling of companies and their assets.

Which type of lawyer is the richest?

The highest-paid lawyers typically specialize in fields such as corporate law, intellectual property, tax law, medical malpractice, and entertainment law. These areas command higher salaries due to the complexity, demand, and financial stakes involved.

Can you take the bar without going to law school in California?

California is one of the few states that allows aspiring lawyers to take the bar exam without going to law school. They can do this by instead completing a four-year law office study program to become a legal professional.

What is the easiest law school to get into in California?

What are the Least Competitive Law Schools to Get Into In California? Golden Gate University and the California Western School of Law are the least competitive law schools to get into in California. Golden Gate University has an acceptance rate of 25.5% and a median LSAT score of 154.

What is the cheapest law school?

The cheapest law schools in the US are the University of the District of Columbia law school and the University of North Dakota law school, which are cheapest only for in-state residents.

Has the California bar exam gotten easier?

However, the CA bar exam is being methodically dumbed down. It was reduced from three days to two days, by getting rid of some of the toughest parts, and the passing score has been sharply reduced.

Who is the 17 year old lawyer in California?

On Nov. 8, at age 17 years and 8 months, Sophia Park received notification that she had passed the bar, which she took in July. The teen from Orange County is currently a law clerk with the Tulare County District Attorney's Office, where her brother Peter also works.

How many law students never pass the bar?

This varies by law school and by state. There are about 200 ABA (American Bar Association) accredited law schools. Among the top 150 law schools—as ranked by US News—bar passage rates for first time bar takers ranges from about 97% to a low of about 65%.