Kim Kardashian, a reality television star and entrepreneur, has reached a new milestone in her pursuit of a legal career, sporting a graduation cap at a private ceremony as she completed her legal apprenticeship.
Kardashian is now eligible to take the California bar exam, according to her representative, marking a step toward following in the footsteps of her late father, attorney Robert Kardashian.
The celebration, held at the Beverly Hills Hotel, was shared with fans through Kardashian’s Instagram account, where she appeared smiling and proud in her cap. Kardashian has spent six years immersed in legal studies through California’s unique apprenticeship program, which allows candidates to study under a lawyer or judge as an alternative to attending law school.
Jessica Jackson, the attorney who mentored Kardashian throughout the program, praised her determination and work ethic.
“Six years ago, Kim Kardashian walked into this program with nothing but a fierce desire to fight for justice,” Jackson said during the ceremony, according to a video posted by Kardashian. “No law school lectures, no ivory tower shortcuts, just determination. And a mountain of case law books to read.”
Jackson emphasized how much the commitment required, noting that Kardashian spent “18 hours a week, 48 weeks a year for six straight years” on her studies.
Kardashian’s father, Robert Kardashian, was a prominent attorney who famously represented O.J. Simpson.
Inspired by her father’s legacy, Kardashian has in recent years become a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform. In 2018, she successfully lobbied then-President Donald Trump to commute the sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, a grandmother serving a life sentence without parole for nonviolent drug offenses.
“I absolutely did think I was going to die,” Kardashian told the court, describing how armed men dressed as police officers broke into her hotel room during Paris Fashion Week and demanded her jewelry.
Kardashian recounted the moments in court, explaining: “That was the moment when I thought he would rape me. But he ended up tying me up and closed my legs.” She described the lasting impact of the ordeal, which left her unable to sleep without multiple security personnel and led to further trauma when her Los Angeles home was robbed shortly afterward.
Despite the challenges, Kardashian has chosen to forgive. During the trial, she responded to a letter of apology from the alleged ringleader, saying, “I forgive you for what has taken place, but it doesn't change the feelings and the trauma and the fact that my life was forever changed, but I do appreciate the letter, thank you.”
Kardashian told the court her testimony was a step toward closure, saying that she’s hopeful that her experience might help prevent similar crimes. “This is my closure. This is me putting this hopefully to rest, after being able to see everyone and thank the French judiciary system for figuring out this investigation,” she said.