Is baby bar harder than bar?

How many times did Michelle Obama take the bar exam?

Michelle Obama took the Illinois Bar Exam twice, failing the first time but passing on her second attempt, a common experience even for successful lawyers. She initially failed the bar, which was devastating, but she persevered and passed, later working as a lawyer before becoming the First Lady. 

Does passing the baby bar make you a lawyer?

No, passing the California "Baby Bar" (First-Year Law Students' Examination or FYLSE) does not make you a lawyer; it's a hurdle for non-traditional law students to continue their studies, allowing them to sit for the actual California Bar Exam, which, along with character and fitness, is required to become a licensed attorney. You must pass the full California Bar Exam, which tests more subjects, and meet other requirements before you can practice law and call yourself a lawyer. 

What happens if you fail the baby bar?

If you don't pass the first time, you are eligible to take the exam again. You can try to pass on either of the next two administrations of the baby bar. The State Bar of California administers the baby bar in June and October each year. An applicant cannot get any credit for law study until they pass the baby bar.

What percent of people pass the baby bar?

Baby Bar Exam Statistics from June 2025

From the table below, you can tell that the overall pass rate has been between 13.4% and 32.5%. First-time takers have had a pass rate between 15.1% and 35.6%. Repeat takers have had a pass rate between 5.5% and 37.8%.

How long should you study for the baby bar?

A good general goal to set is 400 hours of study time. However, this may be more or less, depending on a few things: How well you did in law school, particularly your first year (the better you performed, the less work you will need to put in to pass)

Which is the 3 toughest exam in the world?

The top 3 toughest exams globally consistently include China's Gaokao (college entrance), India's IIT-JEE Advanced (engineering), and India's UPSC Civil Services Exam (government jobs), due to their extreme competition, vast syllabi, and life-altering consequences, though other candidates like the All Souls Prize or Master Sommelier Diploma are also noted for extreme difficulty. These exams demand immense knowledge, analytical skills, and endurance, with failure often meaning significant setbacks, making them notoriously difficult.
 

Which bar is the easiest to pass?

Easiest Bar Exams to Pass for First-Time Takers:

Utah: Utah had the highest first-time pass rate in July 2023, with 94% of first-time takers passing the exam. (It's pass rate dipped to 69% in February 2024, but this is still higher than most other jurisdictions.) It also has a low passing score of 260.

Can you work while studying for the bar?

It is completely possible to have a full-time job and study for the bar exam. But you have to know when to turn it off for the night. Studying for the bar exam is about being honest with yourself on what works for you and what doesn't, what areas you really know, and which ones you need to spend more time on.

Why would someone take the baby bar?

It serves as an initial hurdle in the rigorous process of becoming a licensed attorney in California. For students attending unaccredited law schools or pursuing alternative paths to legal education, successfully navigating the baby bar is essential for advancing in their legal careers.

What are the top 5 hardest bar exams?

Top 5 Toughest States: Data and Details

• California: Legal Maximalism at Its Peak. If there's a bar exam that haunts law school graduates from day one, it's California's. ...
• New York: Big Numbers, Big Pressure. ...
• Florida: The Legal Swamp. ...
• Georgia: The Silent Crusher. ...
• Washington D.C.: Prestige Meets Pressure.

How many chances do you have to pass the baby bar?

How many times can you take the Baby Bar Exam? Unlimited, but you must pass within 3 attempts to receive full credit for your first year.

Did Kim Kardashian pass the baby bar?

Yes, Kim Kardashian passed California's "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Examination) in December 2021, after failing three times previously, marking a significant milestone in her journey to become a lawyer through the state's Law Office Study program. She announced her success on social media, noting it was a difficult, multi-attempt process but a proud achievement. 

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. 

Is the baby bar harder than the actual bar?

The Baby Bar (FYLSE) often has a lower pass rate (around 20-25%) than the main California Bar Exam (around 40-50%), leading many to say it feels harder, though the difficulty is debated and often attributed to the different test-taker pool (non-ABA students vs. all law grads) and lack of full law school training, making it a significant hurdle for those on an alternative path like Kim Kardashian. While the main bar tests many subjects over two days, the baby bar is shorter (one day, three subjects) but incredibly challenging due to its low success rate and specific focus on first-year law topics for non-traditional students.
 

Is the baby bar exam worth it?

Passing the Baby Bar allows students in nontraditional programs to continue earning credit and eventually qualify to take the general bar exam.

How do I prepare for the baby bar?

How to Pass the Baby Bar

1. Create a study schedule. ...
2. Focus on memorizing the highly tested black letter law. ...
3. Practice using multiple-choice and essay questions from recent exams. ...
4. Resolve any timing issues before exam day. ...
5. Review the answers to multiple-choice questions and essays.

Is the baby bar exam graded on a curve?

On the bar exam, the MBE is scaled using a statistical method called equating. This is not a curve that limits how many people can pass or fail. Instead, it ensures fairness across different administrations of the test.

Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?

Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
 

How did Kim Kardashian become an attorney?

But Kim Kardashian did not graduate from law school. Instead, she endeavored to complete the study requirements of California's Law Office Study Program (LOSP) to be eligible to take the California Bar. This is a process we at Esq. Apprentice call legal apprenticeship.

Why can you only take the baby bar three times?

If it takes you more than 3 times, when you eventually pass it you only get credit for the first year of legal study and you'd still need 3 more.