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Metro
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Kim Kardashian's success in law proves her misogynistic haters wrong
Kim Kardashian has once again found herself at the heart of a tidal wave of criticism – only this time it seems to be totally unwarranted. Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that the reality TV star has just completed California's rigorous law apprenticeship path, passed the 'baby bar,' and graduated from the same legal system she's worked within for years to fight unjust incarceration. It's a feat that few could accomplish. So why, therefore, instead of applause, is Kim facing mockery and ridicule? The answer: misogyny, elitism, and resentment of a woman who refuses to stay in the box she was put in. Her critics on X claim that Kardashian 'paid for her degree' or took a 'run-around' route, but, let's be clear, California's legal apprenticeship path is not a shortcut. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video It's one of the oldest and most grueling routes to becoming a lawyer, requiring thousands of supervised study hours, passage of the First-Year Law Students' Examination (commonly called the 'baby bar'), and ultimately will end in her taking the same Bar Exam as law school graduates. And she's done all that while simultaneously producing television, running a multimillion-dollar business empire, and raising four children. Yes, she pursued this from a place of immense wealth and privilege, but isn't it admirable when someone with no financial incentive and nothing to prove chooses to dedicate their time and energy to something larger than themselves, simply to help improve society? Isn't this exactly the kind of influence we should want celebrities to wield? We often complain that celebrity culture is shallow or self-serving, but Kim Kardashian has repeatedly used her platform in extraordinary ways to advocate for criminal justice reform in the past. Through her initiative, she's brought resources to issues that receive far too little sustained attention from politicians (let alone pop culture figures), such as the injustices of mass incarceration, wrongful convictions, and sentencing inequities. Her work has also led to the release of multiple people serving what I can only describe as unfair prison sentences, including Alice Marie Johnson. She's a grandmother and first-time nonviolent offender who had been sentenced to life in prison without parole for her role in a drug trafficking operation. How is it then fair that when one of the most famous women in the world chooses to use her fame to fight for the voiceless (and does the intellectual and emotional labour to back it up) she's mocked for not being 'serious' enough? Much of the criticism reeks of a kind of snobbery. The idea that only those who take the traditional law school route are worthy of respect ignores the long American history of legal apprentices, including Abraham Lincoln, who doesn't normally find himself having much in common with a Kardashian. Apprenticeship paths are still recognised in multiple states because they allow working people (especially those without access to elite institutions) to enter the profession. That path is especially relevant in a time when law school debt can exceed six figures. But underneath this criticism is something even more toxic that is often at play when it comes to cultural opinions on the Kardashians: misogyny. Detractors of this family don't just question her non-traditional route into the legal profession; they question her right to be taken seriously at all. They reduce her to her body, her beauty, and her brand. There's an unspoken rule here: if you've made your name in reality TV that was originally created after a sex tape made you famous, if you've built a brand around femininity and being a sex symbol, you're not allowed to be serious or smart. Yet if she were a man – someone who built such a massive business, leveraged fame into political influence, and committed to a years-long educational pursuit – she'd be called a genius and an entrepreneur with brilliant acumen. We've seen it too many times before. Women in public life are expected to prove themselves in ways men simply aren't. They are expected to apologise for ambition, downplay their success, and stay in their lane – particularly if they've been culturally positioned as sex symbols. Angelina Jolie, for example, was a critically acclaimed actress who happened to be beautiful and open about her sensuality. As a result, as she aged, she had to work hard to be taken seriously as a humanitarian and director. In contrast, male actors transitioning to directing are often immediately treated as auteurs, without seemingly needing to prove moral or emotional 'growth.' Or take Sydney Sweeney, who is relentlessly accused of dating her male co-stars and hyper sexualised. The idea that her confidence in her appearance somehow diminishes her complexity or credibility is, not only outdated, but also deeply reductive. When female celebrities are unapologetic about their achievements, the backlash often comes disguised as legitimate critique, when the reality is that a man would never face the same pigeonholing. More Trending Of course, it's fine to question the role of celebrity in politics and justice reform. Skepticism is healthy, and the Kardashians' brand of hyper-consumerism and perpetuation of unhealthy beauty standards are worth questioning. But dismissing Kim Kardashian's achievements outright doesn't just undermine her work, it also discourages others – especially women – from using their power to fight for something bigger than themselves. So yes, this reality star then legal apprentice didn't go to traditional law school, but she still accomplished something – with the intention of making herself better capable of changing a broken system. And that's far more than her critics have even attempted. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: Tom Cruise eats popcorn in the most 'aggressive' way – and it's driving fans mad MORE: I saw a child in Gaza digging through rubble – the reason broke my heart MORE: Selena Gomez shows support for Hailey Bieber after ex Justin's savage Vogue comments
Arab Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Kim Kardashian finally graduates from law school after six years
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., May 22: Kim Kardashian has officially completed her law school program after a six-year journey, though her achievement was met with some light-hearted trolling from fans. The 44-year-old reality star celebrated the milestone with a backyard ceremony, where she was the only student. She proudly shared a video of the event on Instagram, but many followers pointed out the lengthy time it took her to finish a program that typically lasts three years. In the post, Kardashian, dressed in a grey top, black mini skirt, and beige graduation cap, sat beside a podium as her mentors gave speeches, praising her dedication. Her family, including her four children, watched the ceremony. One of her mentors even described Kardashian's journey as "one of the most inspiring legal journeys we've ever seen." Kardashian did not attend a traditional law school. In California, individuals can become lawyers by completing the four-year Law Office Study Program (LOSP), also known as "reading the law," as opposed to attending a formal law school. She still needs to pass the Bar Exam to practice law in California. Her mentors commended her "fierce desire to fight for justice" and emphasized that she completed the program without taking shortcuts, balancing her legal studies with raising four children, running businesses, filming TV shows, and advocating in courtrooms. Another mentor highlighted Kardashian's advocacy for clemency, her efforts to reunite families, and her focus on addressing critical issues within the legal system. CNN's Van Jones also attended the ceremony, praising Kardashian for her criminal justice reform work. Kim later approached the podium to receive her diploma, with her younger children—Chicago, seven, Saint, nine, and Psalm, five—watching proudly. However, not all fans were impressed, with some humorously commenting on the time it took her to finish the program. "Six years to finish her 'bar prep' program?" one fan wrote, while others remarked that it typically takes three years to graduate from law school. Despite the online teasing, some fans defended Kardashian, noting the challenges she faced while building her business empire, raising her kids, and studying law. "She was building Skims, raising four kids, running an empire, and studying law… this is her legally brunette era, and I support it," one supporter wrote. Kardashian's sisters, Khloe and Kourtney, shared posts celebrating her accomplishment. Ivanka Trump, a close friend, also congratulated Kardashian, calling her her "favorite law school graduate." For the past six years, Kim has dedicated around 18 hours a week to her legal studies, totaling over 5,000 hours. Her hard work paid off when she passed the "baby bar" exam in 2021. Kim's journey was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and her busy schedule, but she also passed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination earlier this year, a key part of her program. Kim celebrated her graduation at a Beverly Hills hotel in a chic outfit, including white heels and black stockings. It's unclear if her eldest daughter, North West, 11, was present at the ceremony. Kim also shared a tribute to her late father, Robert Kardashian, a renowned attorney who gained national attention for his role in the O.J. Simpson trial. He passed away in 2003. The reality star also posted a sweet photo of her son Psalm in a suit enjoying ice cream, writing, "My babies were there to see my graduate." Her daughter Chicago also wore a suit for the occasion. Kim also shared a photo of the placemats at the celebration, which were replicas of her study flashcards. Looking ahead, Kardashian plans to take the Bar Exam in 2026. She first expressed her dream of becoming a lawyer like her father in 2018 and began her apprenticeship in California in mid-2019.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Kim Kardashian graduates law school after 6 years in surprise backyard commencement ceremony
The verdict is in. Kim Kardashian officially graduated from law school and celebrated her six-year educational journey in a backyard commencement ceremony in Beverly Hills, the reality star revealed Wednesday. The Skims founder, 44, shared a series of Instagram stories that captured her mentors praising her for completing the four-year legal apprenticeship during the surprise gathering, where she fashioned a tan graduation cap on a stage before her kids and a small group of family and friends. Advertisement 6 Kim Kardashian celebrated graduating from law school. Instagram/@kimkardashian 'All of you guys have been on this journey with me,' the mom-of-four said while standing at a podium dolled up in a gray sweater, leather mini skirt, black stockings and white pumps. The business mogul first shared her legal aspirations and passion for justice reform in 2019 – and has since played a significant role in helping inmates, including Julius Jones, commute their prison sentences. Advertisement Kardashian – who never graduated college – opted against law school instead to pursue a legal program in California that allows individuals to qualify for the bar exam under the mentorship of a licensed attorney. 6 The 'Kardashians' star shared snippets from the ceremony on her Instagram Story Wednesday. Instagram/@kimkardashian 'Six years ago, Kim Kardashian walked into this program with nothing but a fierce desire to fight for justice,' her mentor, attorney Jessica Jackson, said in one of the shared clips. 6 She was seen holding up her diploma and hugging her mentors. Instagram/@kimkardashian Advertisement 'No law school lectures, no ivory tower shortcuts, just determination and a mountain of case log books to read,' she said, noting that Kardashian dedicated '18 hours a week, 48 weeks a year for six straight years.' 'That's a total of 5,184 hours of legal study. That's time she carved out while raising four children, running businesses, filming television shows and showing up in courtrooms to advocate for others.' 6 Kardashian announced she was embarking on her law school journey in 2019. Instagram/@kimkardashian Kardashian — who was shown hugging her mentors and showcasing her diploma — passed California's First-Year Law Students' Examination or the 'baby bar' after taking the test four times in December 2021. Advertisement 'The Kardashians' star still needs to pass the Bar Exam to practice law in the Golden State. Photos of the celebratory luncheon captured her 5-year-old son, Psalm West, carrying a briefcase while sporting a tan suit and tie inspired by his late grandfather, attorney Robert Kardashian Sr. 6 The Skims founder shared a photo of her son Psalm wearing a suit inspired by the late Robert Kardashian Sr. Instagram/@kimkardashian Kardashian's daughter, Chicago West, 7, was also seen wearing a black pinstripe suit, similar to her mom's 2023 Harvard Business School look. The momentous gathering also featured placemats made from Kardashian's study flashcards. 6 Her study flashcards were turned into placemats at the celebration. Instagram/@kimkardashian 'I am so proud of Kim,' Khloé Kardashian said in a video posted to her own Instagram account. 'I just left her celebration lunch for graduating law school. I mean, I cannot believe this is years and years in the making. I'm so proud of her. This was just such a cool accomplishment, and I'm so proud.'
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kim Kardashian trolled as she FINALLY graduates law school after six year journey
Kim Kardashian has finally completed her law school program after a six year journey, with some fans trolling her for taking so long. The reality TV star, 44, celebrated the major achievement with a backyard ceremony — where she was the only student — and shared the video to her Instagram. The mom-of-four was pictured sitting next to a podium in a grey top, a black mini skirt, and a beige graduation cap, while her mentors gave speeches praising her, and her family and kids watched. One of her mentors even called it 'one of the most inspiring legal journeys we've ever seen.' Kardashian didn't attend traditional law school. In California, individuals can become lawyers by completing a four-year Law Office Study Program (LOSP), also known as 'reading the law,' instead of going to law school. She still needs to pass the Bar Exam to practice law in the state. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The reality TV star celebrated the major achievement with a backyard ceremony — where she was the only student — and shared the video to her Instagram Her mentor went on to speak about Kim's 'fierce desire to fight for justice' and noted the star did not take any shortcuts and was full of 'determination.' She added Kim finished the program while 'raising four children, running businesses, filming television shows, and showing up in courtrooms to advocate for others.' Another mentor spoke about how Kim has 'advocated for clemency, helped reunite families, and brought national attention to the most broken parts of our legal system.' CNN 's Van Jones also appeared at the ceremony, praising her for her criminal justice efforts. Kim later approached the podium to get her diploma, as her younger three kids — Chicago, seven, Saint, nine, and Psalm, five — watched. However, not all fans were impressed, with some joking about how long it took Kim to finish. 'Lmao 6 years to finish her "bar prep" program,' one wrote. 'And it only took her double the amount of time!' 'Gurl 6 years for a law school.' 'Girl it takes THREE. You didn't graduate, you just caught up.' 'Mind you law school is supposed to take 3 years.' 'Took her long enough.' 'Is it supposed to take this long?' someone else asked, while another joked that Kim must have only taken one class per semester. 'To do what exactly?' another questioned. However others were more understanding, with one writing, 'she was building skims, raising four kids, running an empire and studying law…this is her legally brunette era and i support it.' Her sister Khloe Kardashian shared a clip about the ceremony, expressing how proud she is of Kim for completing the journey. Olde sister Kourtney Kardashian also celebrated, posing in a graduation cap in an Instagram snap. For the past six years, Kim has dedicated roughly 18 hours a week to studying law, totaling more than 5,000 hours. Her efforts paid off when she passed the 'baby bar' back in 2021. Kim's process took longer than four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and her busy schedule. Kim had already passed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination back in March — a big exam for her program — sources told TMZ. The star marked her graduation with a celebration at Beverly Hills hotel. Kim's chic look for the day was completed with white heels and black stockings. It's unclear if her eldest daughter North West, 11, was present. Kim shares all four of her kids with ex-husband Kanye West, 47. The star's late father, legendary attorney Robert Kardashian, was clearly on her mind during the special day, as she shared a photo of him. He gained national recognition in the mid-1990s for his involvement in O.J. Simpson's murder trial, where he served as a friend and defense attorney on Simpson's legal 'Dream Team.' He passed away in 2003 from esophageal cancer. He was 59 years old. Kim also shared an adorable snap of her son Psalm in a suit enjoying some ice cream, and proudly wrote, 'my babies were there to see my graduate.' Daughter Chicago was also clad in a suit to watch her mom graduate. Kim also showed a photo of the placemats at the celebration, which were versions of her study flash cards. The reality TV star reportedly plans to take the bar exam in 2026. In 2018 Kim started her dream of wanting to become a lawyer like her father.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
California State Bar files lawsuit against exam vendor after botched tests
The State Bar of California is suing the vendor that administered its February bar exam, a disastrous rollout of a new testing platform that shook confidence in the organization's leadership, prompted lawmakers to call for an audit and the state Supreme Court to order the agency to revert to the traditional exam format in July. The complaint , filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday, alleges Meazure Learning committed fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of contract by claiming it could administer a remote and in-person exam in a two-day window. 'Over months, Meazure made representation after representation to convince the State Bar that it would offer a seamless remote and in-person exam experience worthy of the California Bar Exam,' the complaint said. 'But it is now clear that Meazure could not deliver." For many aspiring attorneys, the rollout of the new exam in February was a debacle. Test takers seeking to practice law in California complained of a litany of technical glitches and irregularities. Online testing platforms repeatedly crashed before some even started the exam. Others experienced screen lags and error messages, struggled to finish and save essays, and could not copy and paste text from test questions into the exam's response field. But Meazure Learning pushed back Tuesday on the idea that it was responsible for the fiasco. In a statement responding to the suit, Meazure said it was proud of its "track record of reliably administering over 4 million exams annually" and supporting more than 1,000 organizations over two decades. It suggested the State Bar was trying to pass the buck for its own failures. "We recognize the importance of a smooth exam experience, and we regret that some test takers had issues during the February 2025 California Bar Exam," a spokesman for Meazure Learning said. "This lawsuit is an attempt by the State Bar to shift the blame for its flawed development process for the February exam. We will defend ourselves vigorously in court.' Read more: 'Utterly Botched': Glitchy rollout of new California bar exam prompts lawsuit and legislative review When Meazure was being tapped to administer February's exam, the lawsuit claims, the company reassured the State Bar that it had experience in administering 25,000 exams over a two-day period and had 'no concerns' about meeting the State Bar's remote testing needs. It also promoted its experience with 2,200 customers over two decades, described itself as the 'most secure and accessible' in the 'techenabled assessment solutions' industry and touted its short chat and phone support wait times of a minute or less. 'Meazure promised that it had no remote exam capacity limits concerning administration of the Bar Exam, knowing full well that it did,' the lawsuit states. 'The State Bar, reasonably and in good faith, relied on Meazure's continuing statements and conduct indicating that it could scale up as needed to handle the volume for remote exams.' But since the exam, the lawsuit said, Meazure has impeded the State Bar's attempts to investigate its failures and "employed delay and deny tactics to prevent the State Bar from obtaining full and critical information." 'In light of the significant hardships endured by the February 2025 applicants and breach of specific contractual obligations outlined in our agreement, the State Bar has taken decisive action to hold Meazure Learning accountable for its failures," Brandon Stallings, the chair of the State Bar Board of Trustees, said in a statement. The State Bar, represented by attorneys from Hueston Hennigan, seeks compensatory and punitive damages for the "unacceptable February Bar Exam experience," and is also seeking an independent audit of the company. Read more: California Supreme Court orders state bar to revert to national exams after testing debacle Prior to February's test, the State Bar promoted the new exam as a cost-cutting initiative that would offer test takers the choice of remote testing. After deciding to break away from the national tests it had used for more than 50 years, the agency signed a $4.1-million deal last year with Meazure Learning to administer a new exam. It also announced an additional $8.25-million five-year deal authorizing test prep company Kaplan Exam Services to create multiple-choice, essays and performance test questions. In the months leading up to the exams, the deans of many of California's top law schools flagged concerns to the State Bar. During a November exam study, some test takers had problems logging in to Meazure's exam platform, the complaint said, and in a January mock exam, technical glitches prevented test takers from entering the exam, submitting responses and using basic word processing functions. "Meazure again assured the State Bar and prospective test takers that it would [and did] fix these issues before the February exam," the complaint said. "But it did not." News of the lawsuit came just hours after the State Bar released exam results for the February exam. The agency reported that 55.9% of test takers passed — the highest spring pass rate since 1965. The California Supreme Court, which oversees the State Bar, delivered a ruling Friday that allowed the agency to lower scoring for the February exam because of the debacle. The State Bar's IT and admission staff then worked through the weekend to adjust scoring so they could inform test takers if they passed or failed. The state's highest court also ordered the State Bar to abandon its new system of multiple-choice questions and revert to the traditional Multistate Bar Examination for multiple-choice questions for its July bar exam. Leah T. Wilson, the embattled executive director of the State Bar who announced she plans to step down in July, congratulated test takers. 'Given the technical and other issues this cohort faced, the perseverance applicants showed is commendable and impressive," Wilson said in a statement. Test takers who did not pass the exam will receive letters later this week detailing their results. They can retake the exam in July. Some February test takers have urged the State Bar to provide equitable remediation after the debacle, such as immediately adopting a provisional licensing program and granting full law licenses in California without requiring additional examination. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
