How many lawyers pass the bar on their first try?
Asked by: Norbert Shanahan | Last update: February 21, 2026Score: 4.4/5 (46 votes)
Roughly 70-80% of lawyers pass the bar exam on their first attempt, though this varies significantly by jurisdiction, with some states seeing rates near 90% and others lower, while national first-time pass rates hover around 79% for recent years, with overall pass rates being lower due to repeat takers. For instance, in July 2025, California saw a 70% first-timer pass rate, while other states had rates like Colorado (80%) or Delaware (81%).
Do most lawyers pass the bar the first time?
The 79.18% pass rate was up slightly from the 78% pass rate earned by first-time bar examinees in 2022, but lower than the 80% pass rate among 2021 takers and the 84% pass rate earned by 2020 examinees.
How many people pass the bar first try?
Preliminary analyses show that of the 7,362 applicants who completed the July 2025 GBX, 73.9 percent were first-time exam takers; the pass rate for these first-time takers was 69.7 percent. The pass rate for the 26.1 percent of applicants who were repeating the exam was 12.4 percent.
Did Michelle Obama pass the bar on the first try?
After graduating from Harvard Law School, Michelle Obama failed the bar exam the first time she sat for it. Mrs. Obama went on to practice intellectual property law for Sidley & Austin before becoming First Lady!
Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam to be a lawyer?
No, Kim Kardashian did not pass the California Bar Exam in July 2025, a result she publicly shared in November 2025, vowing to keep studying despite the setback, but she has previously passed the "Baby Bar" exam after multiple attempts and plans to retake the main bar exam. She revealed her failed attempt on her show The Kardashians, showing emotional moments from her preparation and disappointment, and emphasized her determination to pass.
Attorney Richard Foster"s Tips to Help You Pass the Bar Exam on Your First Try
How many times can you fail the bar exam?
You can usually fail the bar exam an unlimited number of times, as most states have no cap, but some have limits (e.g., 3-6 attempts) that can sometimes be extended with special permission, while a few have strict "hard limits," so checking your specific jurisdiction's rules is crucial.
Who's richer, Taylor Swift or Kim Kardashian?
As of late 2025, Kim Kardashian is generally reported to be richer than Taylor Swift, with her net worth boosted significantly by her SKIMS brand, pushing her fortune to around $1.9 billion, while Swift's wealth is estimated at $1.6 billion, though both are billionaires. Kardashian's business ventures, especially SKIMS' high valuation, have recently placed her ahead, though these figures fluctuate.
Did Hillary Clinton pass the bar?
Yes, Hillary Clinton passed the Arkansas bar exam and became a lawyer, but she famously failed the District of Columbia bar exam on her first attempt, though she passed it later, allowing her to practice law in D.C. and build a successful career.
What was Obama's LSAT score?
Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely above 170, potentially near perfect) to gain admission to Harvard Law School despite a lower undergraduate GPA, suggesting he was in the top few percentile of test-takers for his application year. While no official number exists, analyses point to a score in the top tier (e.g., 94th-98th percentile) to overcome his GPA for admission to a top-ranked program like Harvard.
Did JFK Jr. fail the bar exam?
Let's take a journey through some of the prominent American attorneys I found that failed a bar exam in their lives. John F. Kennedy Jr., failed the NY bar exam twice before he passed on his third try.
Is the bar or CPA harder?
While both are notoriously difficult, many people who've taken both find the CPA exam harder due to its marathon nature (four parts over 18 months) and broad technical scope, compared to the Bar's sprint (one multi-day test) focusing on legal application, though difficulty is subjective and depends on individual strengths in accounting vs. law. The CPA often has lower overall pass rates and requires passing four distinct sections, whereas the Bar tests a single, comprehensive body of legal knowledge, making the CPA feel more like a prolonged, demanding endurance test.
What is the easiest bar to pass?
What is the easiest bar exam to pass? 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.
How many times has Kim Kardashian failed the bar?
Kim Kardashian failed the California "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Exam) three times before passing it in December 2021, and has failed the main California Bar Exam once as of November 2025, vowing to retake it again in 2026. Her failures, particularly with the baby bar, were public, but she persevered to pass that first hurdle on her fourth attempt.
Is law school harder than med school?
Medical school is generally considered harder due to its intense, fact-heavy curriculum requiring massive memorization and dealing with life-or-death stakes, while law school focuses more on reading, critical thinking, and analysis, though both are rigorous and demand significant commitment. Med school involves vast scientific knowledge and clinical rotations, whereas law school builds analytical "thinking like a lawyer" through heavy reading, writing, and case application, culminating in high-stakes final exams.
What's the hardest state to pass the bar exam?
California is widely considered to have the hardest bar exam due to its broad scope testing numerous subjects, stringent grading on essays and performance tests (MPT), and historically low pass rates, with Louisiana and New York also ranking as very challenging exams for different reasons, like Louisiana's unique civil law focus and New York's massive volume and competitive market.
Are you an attorney if you don't 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 LSAT?
That said, the question about what the “Kim Kardashian LSAT score” was, or if she even took the LSAT ends in a resounding no. This unconventional choice has sparked conversations about making legal education more accessible and exploring diverse paths in the legal profession.
What did Ben Affleck get on his SAT?
Ben Affleck reportedly had a "near-perfect" or "almost perfect" SAT score, rumored to be 1600, on the old 1600-point scale, though the exact score isn't officially confirmed, with sources citing sources like the New York Times on his high aptitude despite poor high school attendance.
Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?
Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
Did RFK Jr pass the bar?
Yes, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. passed the New York State bar exam in 1983 and was admitted to the bar after a character and fitness review, which noted he overcame a past addiction problem and showed significant integrity and intellect. He has practiced environmental law for decades, though he resigned from the California bar with disciplinary charges pending (which refers to a different Robert Kennedy Jr. according to this California Bar search result).
Did Michelle Obama become a lawyer?
Career. Following law school, Obama became an associate at the Chicago office of the law firm Sidley & Austin, where she met her future husband. At the firm, she worked on marketing and intellectual-property law.
What happens if you fail the bar exam three times?
If you fail the bar exam three times, the consequences vary by state: most states allow unlimited retakes, but some have limits (e.g., 4-6 tries) or require extra steps like remedial coursework or a formal petition for more attempts, with Mississippi uniquely requiring more law school after three failures; generally, repeated failures prompt a need to seriously analyze study methods and potentially seek tutoring or different strategies before another attempt.
Who's richer, Oprah or Taylor?
No, Oprah Winfrey is richer than Taylor Swift, with Forbes reporting Oprah's net worth at around $3 billion compared to Taylor's $1.6 billion as of mid-2025, making Oprah the richest woman in entertainment and the first Black woman billionaire, while Swift is the world's richest female musician.
Who is the richest female singer ever?
Based on Forbes, American singer Taylor Swift is the wealthiest female musician, with a net worth of US$1.6 billion as of 2024. Barbadian singer Rihanna became the first female musician to attain a billionaire status in 2021, with a net worth of $1.7 billion at that time.
Is Kendall a billionaire or a millionaire?
Kendall Jenner is a millionaire, with her net worth estimated around $60 million as of late 2025/early 2026, making her the world's highest-paid model but not a billionaire like her sisters Kim and Kylie. Her wealth comes from lucrative modeling contracts, reality TV, and her 818 Tequila brand, while Kim and Kylie have reached billionaire status through their businesses.