What famous people failed the bar exam the first time?
Asked by: Darrick Schowalter | Last update: June 30, 2026Score: 5/5 (26 votes)
Several prominent politicians, legal scholars, and public figures failed the bar exam on their first attempt, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Kamala Harris. Others, like John F. Kennedy Jr., failed multiple times before passing.
What famous people failed the bar the first time?
Jerry Brown, the current governor of California, failed the CA bar exam on his first attempt before passing on his second attempt. Kathleen Sullivan, former Dean of Stanford Law School, failed the CA bar exam on her first attempt.
Did Kim Kardashian pass the state bar exam?
As of May 2026, Kim Kardashian has not passed the California bar exam. She failed her attempt in July 2025, skipped the February 2026 exam, and is not expected to take the exam in July 2026, with plans to potentially retest in 2027. She previously passed the "baby bar" exam on her fourth attempt in 2021.
Who didn't pass the bar on the first try?
Several notable public figures, including Vice President Kamala Harris, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, failed the bar exam on their first attempt. Other prominent individuals who failed initially include Hillary Clinton, John F. Kennedy Jr., and former California Governor Jerry Brown.
Did Michelle Obama pass the bar exam the first time?
A graduate of Harvard, Michelle Obama initially failed the Illinois bar exam. Her life accomplishments were far from over, however. She eventually practiced intellectual property law at Sidley & Austin. Later, she made a name for herself as First Lady during President Obama's administration.
Kim Kardashian Says She Didn’t Pass First Year Law Student Exam | KUWTK | E!
Did Hillary Clinton ever pass the bar exam?
Yes, Hillary Clinton passed the Arkansas bar exam, although she famously failed the Washington D.C. bar exam on her first attempt. After failing the D.C. exam in the early 1970s, she moved to Arkansas, where she passed the bar and began her career, never retaking the D.C. exam.
How many times did JFK Jr. fail his bar exam?
Kennedy earned a Juris Doctor degree from the New York University School of Law in 1989. He failed the New York bar exam twice before passing on his third attempt in July 1990. After his second failure, he said he would continue taking the exam until he eventually passed.
What is the hardest state to pass the bar exam in?
California is widely regarded as having the hardest bar exam in the United States due to its famously low pass rates (often below 50% for first-time takers), high cut score, and extensive, non-Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) format. Other states with reputations for extreme difficulty include Delaware, Louisiana, Virginia, Nevada, and Florida.
Who failed the bar twice?
Governor Deval Patrick
After graduation from Harvard Law, Governor Patrick failed the bar exam twice, passing on his third attempt. He went on to serve as the first African-American Governor of Massachusetts for eight years.
Does Michelle Obama have a law license?
Michelle Obama does not currently have an active law license. She voluntarily changed her status to "voluntarily inactive" in 1993, meaning she is not authorized to practice law in Illinois. She did not lose her license due to misconduct; she simply stopped practicing law to pursue other career paths.
Which Kardashian is taking the bar exam?
Kim Kardashian makes difficult decision in law journey after multiple failed bar exam attempts.
Is the baby bar harder than the real bar?
The California "Baby Bar" (FYLSE) is generally considered not harder than the main Bar Exam in terms of subject depth, but it is often more difficult to pass. With pass rates often below 20-25%, it acts as a tough, foundational weeding-out tool for unaccredited law students, whereas the main bar covers much more content.
How many presidents failed the bar exam?
Franklin D. Roosevelt is the most frequently cited U.S. President who failed the bar exam, failing the New York bar on his first attempt in 1905 before passing in 1907. While some lists include other politicians like Thomas Jefferson or Andrew Jackson, these cases are rarely verified in mainstream historical records, with FDR being the primary example.
Did Leonardo DiCaprio finish high school?
Leonardo DiCaprio did not finish high school in the traditional sense; he dropped out of John Marshall High School in Los Angeles after his junior year to focus on his acting career. However, he later earned his General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
Why do people fail the bar twice?
It is all about your interest and your mind, most people fail the bar exam repeatedly because the lose interest as the year progresses. They get discouraged and study passively. They think they know it all and spend less time on the materials.
Which bar exam did Hillary Clinton fail?
Secretary of State and past Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton failed the DC bar exam the first time she took it. She passed the Arkansas bar after that.
Is Malia Obama a Harvard graduate?
Yes, Malia Obama graduated from Harvard University in 2021. She was part of the class of 2021, having enrolled in 2017 after taking a gap year following her high school graduation from Sidwell Friends School in 2016.
Which president did not go to law school?
Presidents who were lawyers but did not attend law school include: John Adams; Thomas Jefferson; James Madison; James Monroe; John Quincy Adams; Andrew Jackson; Martin Van Buren; John Tyler; James K. Polk; Millard Fillmore; James Buchanan; Abraham Lincoln; James A.
Did Joe Biden pass the bar?
Yes, Joe Biden passed the Delaware bar exam on his first attempt in 1969. Although he graduated near the bottom of his class from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968, he was admitted to the bar the following year and practiced briefly as a lawyer before entering politics.
Have Kim Kardashian passed the bar exam?
Kim Kardashian's Bar Exam Status Revealed Following July 2025 Failure Amid Her Law School Journey. Kim Kardashian seemingly doesn't plan on retaking the California Bar exam anytime soon. The Skims founder, 45, last sat down for the rigorous test in July 2025 and did not pass.
Has anyone ever gotten 100% on the bar?
It is generally considered impossible to get a theoretically perfect score on the overall bar exam due to the subjective nature of essay grading. However, individuals have achieved perfect scores on individual components, such as the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE). While exceptionally rare, some students have received perfect scores on individual essay sections.
Which state is easiest to become a lawyer?
Wisconsin makes the list of easiest bar exams for a unique reason: if you attend an ABA law school in Wisconsin, you don't have to take the bar! Students who have graduated from these universities can just apply to practice law in the state. No studying, no stressing, no grueling examination period.
How many times did JFK Jr. fail the bar?
John F. Kennedy Jr. failed the New York bar exam twice before passing on his third attempt in July 1990.
What are common bar exam mistakes?
Neglecting the written portion of the bar exam
Many bar takers spend too much time drilling multiple-choice questions and not enough time on the written portion — especially the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). If you're taking the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), the MPT is worth 20% of your score.