Kim Kardashian Fails the Bar Exam but Refuses to Give Up on Her Law Dream
Kim Kardashian is no stranger to pressure, but her journey toward becoming a lawyer pushed her to a level of stress she says she never expected. On a recent episode of The Kardashians, viewers saw the reality star struggling under the weight of intense preparation as she approached the bar exam.
Just days before taking the test, she ultimately did not pass. Kim confronted physical pain, emotional exhaustion, and deep self-doubt. The moment gave fans a rare and unfiltered look at how demanding and emotionally taxing her six-year legal journey has truly been.
Below is a full breakdown of what happened, why it mattered, and how Kim is choosing to move forward.
Kim Kardashian Hits an Emotional Wall During Bar Exam Prep
On the Dec. 18 episode of The Kardashians, Kim Kardashian opened up about feeling completely overwhelmed as she prepared for the July bar exam. With only nine days left before test day, the stress caught up with her in a way she did not anticipate.
She admitted to the cameras, “I’m absolutely gonna cry, cause it’s f—— exhausting,” explaining that she had finally hit a wall after months of intense studying. Despite being warned that many people experience emotional breakdowns before the bar, Kim believed she would be immune to that pressure. That assumption quickly faded.
She shared, “I just knew that wasn’t me, ’cause I’m not that person, but I get it. It’s really a lot. Now I really, really get it.” For viewers who have followed her law journey from the start, the moment marked one of the most vulnerable scenes she has shown on the series.
Physical Pain Added to the Mental Strain
Kim’s emotional state was further complicated by a serious back injury that limited her ability to sit, walk, or study comfortably. The physical pain only intensified her frustration during an already critical time.
She explained, “I threw my back out, and it’s like, every time I think I get to another step, something pulls me back.”Her discomfort became overwhelming as she continued, “I can hardly walk, I can hardly f —— sit. I don’t know why I have all these back problems.”
Balancing physical pain with the pressure of an exam that determines her future left Kim questioning why so many obstacles were appearing at once. She added, “There’s all these f—— roadblocks, and I’m not a pity party kind of girl, but last night, I was like, why the f— is this happening?”
Six Years of Studying and the Weight of Expectations
Kim Kardashian has been working toward becoming a lawyer for six years through California’s apprenticeship program rather than traditional law school. The commitment required thousands of study hours, multiple exams, and constant public scrutiny.
Despite her fame and resources, the bar exam proved to be just as mentally draining for her as it is for anyone else. She admitted on the show, “I had no clue it was gonna be this emotional.” At that point, she felt mentally maxed out and unsure how she could absorb any more information.
“I don’t know how I can get any more information into my brain,” she said honestly. A producer even pointed out that they had never seen her want something as badly as this, which led Kim to reflect on what failure might mean for her.
Kim Questions Whether She Would Retake the Bar
In a deeply personal moment, Kim shared doubts about whether she would be able to attempt the bar exam again if she failed. She revealed, “I really want it, and if I don’t pass, I don’t think I would take it again. I wouldn’t have the time for a few years, and then I’m older, and then my brain capacity is different.”
At the time, those words reflected pure exhaustion rather than a lack of passion. The pressure of age, time, and mental energy weighed heavily on her as she faced the possibility of disappointment. As fans later learned, Kim did not pass the July exam. But that was not the end of her story.
Kim Kardashian Addresses Failing the Bar Exam
In November, Kim publicly shared that she did not pass the bar exam, choosing transparency over silence. Her response was honest, self-aware, and hopeful.
She wrote on Instagram, “Well…I’m not a lawyer yet, I just play a very well-dressed one on TV.” She continued, “Six years into this law journey, and I’m still all in until I pass the bar.”
Rather than framing the setback as a defeat, Kim reframed it as motivation. She told her followers, “Failing short isn’t failure — it’s fuel. I was so close to passing the exam, and that only motivated me even more. Let’s go!”
Why Kim Is Not Giving Up on Her Law Dream
Despite earlier doubts about retaking the exam, Kim made it clear that she is not walking away from her dream. In another post, she shared behind-the-scenes footage of her exam prep and reaffirmed her commitment.
She wrote, “This dream means too much to me to walk away from.” Reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster of those final weeks, she added, “I’ve shared so much of this journey with you, and this summer I documented some of the final two weeks of studying — the ups, the downs, and everything in between.”
She concluded with determination, “On November 7th, I found out I didn’t pass the bar. It was disappointing, but it wasn’t the end. I’m going to keep studying, keep learning, and keep showing up for myself until I get there.”
A Powerful Reminder That Even Icons Struggle
Kim Kardashian’s bar exam breakdown resonated with many viewers because it showed a side of success that often stays hidden. The pressure, the doubt, the physical pain, and the emotional burnout are all part of chasing a dream, no matter how famous you are.
New episodes of The Kardashians continue to premiere on Thursdays on Hulu, offering fans a closer look at her evolving journey. Whether she passes on her next attempt or not, Kim’s determination proves that resilience matters just as much as results.
@screenshothq @Kim Kardashian just shared a new video in which she can be seen breaking down in tears while studying for the California bar exam, which she eventually failed for the second time 😬 “I’m just so tired, and it’s like every time I feel like I’m a step ahead, something happens to try to stop me from doing this,” the reality star said in the video she shared over the weekend. “A part of me wants to stop. I just feel [like] my brain’s gonna explode.” The video detailed how she prepared for the licensing test, which determines whether someone is qualified to practice law in that specific state or territory, two weeks before she took it. #kimkardashian #thekardashians #barexam #lawyer #celebritynews ♬ original sound – SCREENSHOT
Summary:
- Kim Kardashian broke down emotionally on The Kardashians just nine days before taking the July bar exam.
- She described feeling mentally exhausted and overwhelmed after six years of studying law.
- A painful back injury added to her stress and made it difficult for her to study or even sit comfortably.
- Kim admitted she was shocked by how emotional the bar exam preparation became.
- She questioned whether she would retake the exam if she failed due to time, age, and mental strain.
- Kim later revealed in November that she did not pass the bar exam.
- Despite the setback, she made it clear she is not giving up on her dream of becoming a lawyer.
- She described failing the exam as motivation rather than defeat.
- Kim continues to study and remains committed to eventually passing the bar.
