Kim Kardashian graduates law program after six years of study
FILE - US celebrity Kim Kardashian (C) arrives with her mother Kris Jenner (R) at the Assize Court for the trial during which she will testify over the 2016 robbery that saw her relieved of millions of dollars' worth of jewellery at gunpoint in Paris (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - Kim Kardashian marked a major milestone in her legal journey on Tuesday, May 21, celebrating her graduation from California’s Law Office Study Program in what appeared to be a backyard ceremony. The event was attended by her children, close friends, and sisters Khloé and Kourtney Kardashian.
The celebration was shared in a series of Instagram Stories, including posts from Khloé Kardashian, who showed Kim walking onstage and donning a graduation cap as the crowd applauded. In one video, Kim held up a certificate of completion while her children joined her on stage.
"I finally graduated law school after six years!!!" Kim wrote in one clip. Although she didn’t attend a traditional law school, she completed California’s alternative legal pathway, which allows candidates to study under a practicing attorney instead of enrolling in an accredited law program.
What is California’s Law Office Study Program?
The backstory:
California is one of only four states that allows bar candidates to qualify without attending an accredited law school. Known as the Law Office Study Program, it lets students apprentice under a judge or practicing attorney while completing rigorous self-study requirements.
Kim Kardashian began her apprenticeship in 2018 with a San Francisco-based law firm. Participants must study 18 hours a week for 48 weeks a year, and Kardashian extended her timeline to six years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and professional obligations.
Her mentor, attorney Jessica Jackson, spoke during the ceremony, People Magazine reported. "Six years ago, Kim Kardashian walked into this program with nothing but a fierce desire to fight for justice," Jackson said. "Over the course of this program, Kim has dedicated 18 hours a week, 48 weeks a year for six straight years. That’s a total of 5,184 hours of legal study."
What they're saying:
Khloé Kardashian shared a video from the post-ceremony lunch on her Instagram Stories. "I mean, I cannot believe this is years and years in the making," she said. "I’m so proud of her. This was just such a cool accomplishment."
Kourtney Kardashian Barker also posted a photo of herself wearing Kim’s graduation cap, captioned "Supportive sister."
CNN political commentator and family friend Van Jones, who has worked with Kardashian on criminal justice reform efforts, also spoke at the event to honor her six-year legal journey.
What's next:
Kardashian passed the First-Year Law Students’ Examination—commonly known as the "baby bar"—on her fourth attempt in 2021. In March 2024, she took the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE), which California requires before a candidate can sit for the Bar.
She has not yet taken the Bar exam, but completing the apprenticeship and passing both the baby bar and MPRE are key prerequisites.
Big picture view:
Though best known as a reality TV star and entrepreneur, Kim Kardashian has used her platform to advocate for criminal justice reform. She has helped secure clemency for several individuals and has made legal activism a core part of her public identity.
Her legal work is also a tribute to her father, Robert Kardashian Sr., a prominent attorney who was part of O.J. Simpson’s defense team.
The Source: This article is based on reporting from a series of Instagram Stories shared by Kim Kardashian and Khloé Kardashian, which documented Kim’s graduation ceremony from California’s Law Office Study Program. Additional details about her legal education, exam milestones, and mentor remarks were drawn from those videos. Context about California’s Law Office Study Program and legal requirements was sourced from the State Bar of California.