What is the pass rate for the California bar exam 2023?

Asked by: Roslyn Bogisich  |  Last update: April 5, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (28 votes)

In 2023, the California Bar Exam had an overall pass rate of 51.5% for the July exam and 33% for the February exam, with first-time takers passing at higher rates (around 65% in July, 45% in February) than repeaters (around 24% in July, 28% in February).

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 Kim Kardashian pass the California State Bar exam?

No, Kim Kardashian did not pass the California Bar Exam in July 2025, but she vowed to retake it, stating she was close to passing and using the setback as motivation for more studying, as shown on The Kardashians and her Instagram. She had previously passed the "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Exam) in 2021 on her fourth attempt and is pursuing a career in law, inspired by her late father.
 

How many times can you fail the bar in California?

In California, there is no strict limit to the number of times a candidate can take the bar exam. In other words, if you don't succeed on your first try, you can retake the exam in the subsequent session, and so on.

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.
 

How does the California Bar Exam work?

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Did Joe Biden ever pass the bar?

Yes, Joe Biden earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Syracuse University College of Law in 1968 and was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1969, indicating he passed the bar exam required for practice, despite graduating in the lower half of his class. 

What was Barack Obama's LSAT score?

Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed to have been very high, likely in the 170-175 range, to gain admission to Harvard Law School with a relatively low undergraduate GPA. Analysts suggest he needed a score in the top percentiles (perhaps 94th-98th) to overcome his lower GPA and secure a spot at the prestigious institution, indicating a strong performance near the perfect 180 score. 

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. 

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, after first failing in November 1989 and February 1990. He had to pass on his third try to keep his job as a prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney's office. 

Has anyone passed the bar without going to college?

The answer to this question is yes – in some cases, and in some states, this can be accomplished. In fact, there have been some famous lawyers throughout history who did not attend law school. We will now delve into the process of becoming a lawyer through “reading the law” rather than going to law school.

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 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.

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.

What law school has the lowest bar passage rate?

Cooley Law School, which has campuses in Michigan and Florida, had the lowest first-time pass rate last year at 37.25%. It was followed by Florida A&M University College of Law at 40.20% and Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law at 45.45%.

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 finish law school?

Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Born in Chicago and raised on the South Side of the city, Obama is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm Sidley Austin where she met her future husband.

What degree does Kamala Harris have?

She graduated in 1986 with a degree in political science and economics. Harris then attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, where she served as president of its chapter of the Black Law Students Association. She graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1989.

Did Michelle Obama eventually pass the bar exam?

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.
 

What is Joe Biden's stage 4 diagnosis?

Metastatic cancer, which Biden has, means that it has spread from where it started to another part of the body – in his case, from the prostate to the bone. It's also known as Stage 4 cancer. Somebody Biden's age wouldn't normally be screened for prostate cancer.

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.
 

Is Kendall a billionaire or a millionaire?

Kendall Jenner is a millionaire, with recent estimates placing her net worth around $60 million, making her the highest-paid model in the world, but not a billionaire like her sister Kylie Jenner or Kim Kardashian. Her wealth comes from lucrative modeling contracts, reality TV earnings, and her 818 Tequila brand.
 

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.