Is it normal to feel like you failed the bar?

Asked by: scraper  |  Last update: August 17, 2026
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Yes, it is incredibly normal to feel like you failed the bar exam. The post-exam anxiety spiral is a universal experience for law graduates, and it is common for even top-scoring test-takers to leave the exam feeling like they failed.

How many times did Michelle Obama fail the bar exam?

Michelle Obama failed the Illinois bar exam one time. The Harvard Law School graduate did not pass on her first attempt, but successfully passed on her second attempt. She later addressed this in her book Becoming, highlighting that the initial setback did not define her successful legal career.

How do I know if I failed the bar?

A passing score for the bar exam is the equivalent of somewhere between 65% and 75%. In most jurisdictions, you need around a 266/400, which is 66.5%. That number also is the scaled score (read about how to interpret bar exam score reports here), meaning you can score lower than the 66.5% and still pass.

How many times did Kim Kardashian fail a bar?

Kim Kardashian has failed the official California Bar Exam one time, and the preliminary "baby bar" exam three times.

What percentage of people fail the bar?

Nationally, about 30% to 40% of test-takers fail the bar exam. However, the exact failure rate depends heavily on whether someone is a first-time or repeat test-taker and which state they are testing in.

Is It Normal to Feel Like You Failed the Bar Exam?

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How many times did JFK Jr. fail the bar exam?

JFK Jr. failed the bar exam twice before passing on his third attempt. After graduating from NYU Law in 1989, he failed the New York bar in November 1989 and again in February 1990 before finally passing the July 1990 exam.

Will Kim Kardashian retake the bar?

As of May 2026, Kim Kardashian is pausing her attempts to pass the California Bar exam and does not plan to retake it in July 2026, with reports suggesting she will delay her next attempt until 2027. Despite this, she remains committed to her goal of becoming a lawyer.

Who has failed the bar exam the most?

Paulina Bandy. Paulina Bandy has gained some notoriety in the legal world as being the person who perhaps has failed the bar exam more than anyone else. She failed the California bar exam 13 times before passing. She now runs a website dedicated to helping people pass the bar.

How long did Kim study to pass the bar?

Kim Kardashian—who graduated from her law program in May after six years—shared the results of her California Bar Exam, the final step in her process to becoming a licensed lawyer. bit.ly/4hPyaDh. Holly Dickens the sensitivity in these people when kim would think they are peasants compared to her.

How hard is the bar exam?

The bar exam is widely considered extremely difficult. It is not an IQ test, but rather a massive operational and memorization test that requires about 8 to 10 weeks of full-time study. The national first-time pass rate hovers around 83% for ABA-accredited law schools, but this drops significantly depending on the state.

How soon after you fail the bar can you take it again?

If you fail the bar exam, you can generally retake it at the very next administration. Most jurisdictions offer the exam twice a year—in February and July—allowing you to apply for the next cycle, which gives you a turnaround of about 3 to 6 months.

Is it normal to fail the bar?

Yes, failing the bar exam is relatively common. Recent statistics show that roughly 40% of test-takers can fail in certain years, making it a very common experience for law graduates. While first-time pass rates are higher, in states with difficult exams like California, the overall pass rate can hover around 40-50%.

Do most people pass the bar exam on their first try?

Yes, most people pass the bar exam on their first try. Nationally, about 70% to 83% of first-time test-takers from ABA-accredited law schools pass, though success heavily depends on the jurisdiction, the law school attended, and whether the test is taken in July or February.

Did Joe Biden pass his bar exam?

Yes, Joe Biden passed the bar exam. He graduated from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968 and was officially admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969.

Did Hillary Clinton ever pass the bar exam?

Hillary Clinton passed the Arkansas bar exam but failed the Washington, D.C. bar exam on her first attempt.

What was Obama's LSAT score?

During his time, the median LSAT scores for Harvard Law were generally between 170 and 175. This suggests that the Obama LSAT scores were within this range, placing him in the top percentiles of test-takers.

Has Kim Kardashian taken the LSAT?

No, Kim Kardashian did not take the LSAT. She did not attend traditional law school.

Which Kardashian got their law degree?

@KimKardashian tells us about her six-year journey to graduating from her law study program and how her late father was with her along the way.

How can Kim Kardashian become a lawyer without going to law school?

Kim Kardashian can become a lawyer in California without a college degree or law school by using the state's Law Office Study Program (LOSP), an apprenticeship route known as "reading the law". This pathway requires four years of supervised legal study, passing the "baby bar" exam, and passing the California Bar Exam.

What famous lawyers failed the bar?

Several prominent politicians, presidents, and legal scholars failed their bar exams—some on their first attempts, others multiple times—before going on to highly distinguished careers.

Has Kim Kardashian passed the California bar exam?

Kim Kardashian has not yet passed the California bar exam.

What percentage of lawyers never pass the bar exam?

There are probably on the order of 150,000 law school graduates in the United States who have taken but never passed a bar exam; this amounts to one in ten J.D.s and the risk falls disparately on black, Hispanic, and Asian law school graduates.

How many times did Michelle Obama take the bar exam?

Michelle Obama took the bar exam two times before passing.

How to make $500,000 a year as a lawyer?

Lawyers can reach $500K+ in income by focusing on high-value legal specialties and scalable business models. Strategic lead generation is essential for consistent client acquisition and revenue growth. Raising legal fees and implementing retainer agreements can significantly boost profitability.

How did Kim lose 16lbs in 3 weeks?

With three weeks until the Met Gala she declared: “It was this or nothing.” To meet that deadline she committed to a drastic change: cutting out all sugar and carbs, eating only “the cleanest veggies and protein,” wearing a sauna suit twice daily, and running on a treadmill twice each day.