Kim Kardashian just took a major step forward in her long and often criticized journey to becoming a licensed attorney in California—and it’s safe to say the reactions are as mixed as ever.

The 44-year-old reality star, business mogul, and mother of four announced that she had officially completed the California Law Office Study Program. It’s an intense, unconventional path that bypasses traditional law school in favor of working under the supervision of licensed attorneys. For Kim, it meant six years of rigorous study, balancing her legal goals alongside the demands of running a global brand, raising her children, and living life in the public eye.

“I finally graduated law school after 6 years!!!” she posted on Instagram, her caption paired with a glamorous photo, proving once again that she brings her signature mix of fashion and determination to everything she does.

On May 21, Kim’s family threw her a surprise graduation party in Beverly Hills. She arrived expecting a casual brunch but instead walked into a backyard celebration full of Kardashian-style flair—balloons, flowers, friends, and family all there to honor her achievement. Among the surprises were her legal mentors, who flew in to show support. According to a source, Kim had no idea they’d be attending, making the event even more emotional.

Even Ivanka Trump joined in with a congratulatory message online: “Congratulations Kim! You did it! My favorite law school graduate!”

Kim’s mentor revealed just how much work went into this journey: over 5,184 hours of legal study. “She found time while raising four kids, managing businesses, filming a reality show, and advocating for criminal justice reform,” the mentor said. It’s a schedule most people would find overwhelming, but Kim pushed through.

However, despite the dedication and effort, the internet had plenty to say—and not all of it was kind. Critics were quick to point out that the program is designed to take four years, but Kim needed six. This opened the door for trolls to mock her intelligence, her fame, and even her appearance. One user snarked, “She got her degree from TEMU.” Another sarcastically wrote, “In a year when Katy Perry became an astronaut and Kim K became a lawyer… what’s next?”

The jokes didn’t stop there. Some commenters questioned whether Kim would show up to court in designer gowns. Others said they wouldn’t trust her to represent them. Many criticized her for taking longer than expected, arguing that a “real” attorney would’ve graduated from an accredited law school and not what one person called “the CliffsNotes version.”

But her fans came to her defense, with many celebrating her resilience. One supporter wrote, “Congrats Kim! Your dad would be so proud. Let’s pass that bar!” This was a reference to Robert Kardashian, her late father, who was famously part of O.J. Simpson’s legal team and a major influence on Kim’s decision to study law.

Kim’s graduation party was filled with thoughtful touches, like placemats printed with her actual study flashcards. In one especially moving moment, she posed on stage in a gray outfit and cap while her children looked on. Photos show Kim holding her diploma, surrounded by loved ones, mentors, and supporters—all beaming with pride. While her three youngest children—Saint, Chicago, and Psalm—were present, it’s unclear if her eldest daughter, North, attended the event.

Her legal journey began back in 2018, when she started an apprenticeship with a San Francisco law firm. As part of the California Law Office Study Program, she was required to complete extensive legal training without ever attending a traditional law school. But the road was far from easy. She failed the First-Year Law Student’s Exam, known as the “baby bar,” three times before finally passing in 2021. She shared her excitement in all caps on X: “OMFGGGG I PASSED THE BABY BAR EXAM!!!!” She noted that she’d taken the exam while battling COVID-19, with a fever of 104 degrees, but emphasized that she never let setbacks stop her.

More recently, in March 2025, Kim passed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), another major hurdle. That means just one final step remains: the full California Bar Exam.

Kim has always been candid about the challenges of studying law. She once told Vogue that tort law was confusing, contracts were boring, but criminal law came naturally to her. “Crim law I can do in my sleep,” she said. “Took my first test, I got a 100. Super easy for me.” Still, she admitted that the reading load was overwhelming. “The reading is what really gets me. It’s so time-consuming. The concepts I grasp in two seconds,” she said.

Even so, the online criticism kept coming. Some accused her of using her legal status for drama, others joked that she was preparing to play a lawyer on TV. One user cynically said, “Now she can finally silence her ex.”

Regardless of the noise, Kim remains focused on her goals. Her passion for criminal justice reform is no secret. In an interview with Hong Kong Vogue in April 2022, she said, “I’m very passionate about criminal justice reform and I want to advocate for those who I feel were wrongfully convicted. I dream of one day creating a successful law firm.”

Whether people believe she earned it or not, Kim Kardashian is undeniably close to achieving something that few expected from a reality TV star. With over 5,000 hours of study under her belt, two major exams behind her, and one more to go, she’s just steps away from becoming a licensed attorney in California. And if her track record tells us anything, it’s that she won’t stop until she crosses that finish line—designer heels and all.