What is the pass rate for the California bar exam?
Asked by: Aida Ondricka | Last update: February 11, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (69 votes)
California's bar exam pass rates vary by exam date and applicant status, but recent results show overall rates around 55% for July 2025 and a higher 63% for February 2025 (after score adjustments), with first-time takers generally passing at much higher rates (around 70%) than repeaters (around 12-15%). Pass rates are significantly higher for ABA-accredited law school graduates (over 80% first-timers) compared to California-accredited schools (around 35%).
What is the pass rate of California bar?
California's bar exam pass rates fluctuate but are generally around 50-60% overall, with recent July 2025 results showing a 54.8% pass rate (over 4,000 passed) from a high of 7,362 applicants, while first-time takers from ABA-accredited schools see much higher success, sometimes above 80%, versus lower rates for repeaters or unaccredited school grads.
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.
Is the California bar exam the hardest?
Yes, the California Bar Exam is widely considered one of the hardest, if not the hardest, bar exams in the U.S. due to its extensive scope (testing numerous subjects, including complex California-specific law), high passing score (cut score), demanding format with essays and performance tests, and historically low pass rates, especially for first-time takers. While some states like Delaware rival it, California's combination of breadth, rigor, and unique state law makes it exceptionally challenging, often cited as a "rite of passage" or "trial by fire".
Has Kim Kardashian passed the California bar exam?
No, Kim Kardashian did not pass the California Bar Exam on her first attempt in July 2025, revealing the results in November 2025, but stated she remains determined to keep studying and retake it, viewing the setback as motivation. She had previously passed the "baby bar," the First-Year Law Students' Exam, in late 2021 after multiple tries, which qualified her to take the main bar exam.
California Bar Exam: Everything You Need to Know (Subjects, Structure, and More)
How many times can you fail the bar in California?
There is no limit to the number of times you can take the bar exam in the state of California. While it may come as a relief to many students who are planning to take the bar exam in California that there are no limits, California's bar exam is known for being one of the hardest exams in the U.S.
Did Kim ever get her law degree?
No, Kim Kardashian does not have a traditional law degree (Juris Doctor) because she didn't attend law school; instead, she completed California's Law Office Study Program (an apprenticeship) to qualify for the state bar exam, a path similar to her late father, Robert Kardashian, though she still needs to pass the actual bar exam to be a practicing lawyer.
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.
Why is California bar pass rate so low?
In comparison to other states, California has a large number of applicants. The fact that California's population of exam takers is so large contributes to the overall lower pass rate the state is regularly pumping out. To put this into perspective, in 2017 California had 12,985 applicants who sat for the exam.
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.
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 Joe Biden ever pass the bar?
Yes, Joe Biden passed the bar exam and was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969 after earning his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968, despite graduating in the lower portion of his class. He practiced law before entering politics, serving as a lawyer and later becoming the 27th President of the United States, and the first President with a law degree from a non-"T-14" law school in a century, notes Law.com.
What is the average salary after passing the CA bar?
Average The State Bar of California Attorney yearly pay in California is approximately $192,768, which is 80% above the national average. Salary estimated from 69 past and present job postings on Indeed.
How many people fail the bar exam the first-time in California?
As is typical, those taking the exam for the first-time had the highest pass rate, 69.7%. Of the people who were taking the test again after at least one unsuccessful effort, the pass rate was only 12.4%.
Is the bar exam harder than the CPA?
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.
Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam?
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.
Is the bar exam harder than law school?
Generally, the bar exam is considered harder than the LSAT. The LSAT tests logical reasoning and reading comprehension for law school admission, while the bar exam requires extensive legal knowledge and practical skills to obtain a license to practice law.
How many times can you fail the CA bar?
No limits: The vast majority of jurisdictions do not limit the number of times that you are able to sit for the bar exam (so in theory, you can sit for the bar as many times as you want).
What's the hardest exam for lawyers?
What is the hardest bar exam to pass? California has a notoriously hard bar exam, with only 45% of first-time takers passing the Feb 2024 bar exam, and 24% of repeat takers passing the July 2023 exam. However, there are other states with lower pass rates in July 2023, including Maine, Wyoming, and Maryland.
What is the easiest exam in the world?
List of Easiest Exams in the World
- Duolingo English Test (DET)
- TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication)
- SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
- National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) Exams.
- Cambridge English: Key (KET)
- SSC Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) Exam.
- IELTS General Training Test.
- Gaokao Mock Test.
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.
Did Kim use ChatGPT for bar exam?
The news of her failing the bar comes after Kim admitted she used AI assistance to help her study for law school exams. During a recent interview alongside Teyana Taylor for Vanity Fair's Lie Detector video series, Kim said she used ChatGPT but didn't find it very helpful.
Which Kardashian was a lawyer?
Who was Robert Kardashian? Robert Kardashian was an Armenian American businessman and lawyer known for his involvement in O.J. Simpson's murder trial. He was also connected to the reality TV show Keeping Up With the Kardashians through his family.