What is the Baby Bar exam? What does it mean to pass the Baby Bar?

While the term and the exam exists for as long as we can remember, socialite and TV reality show star Kim Kardashian West might have succeeded in bringing the term “baby bar” into focus after her recent explosion of joy for reportedly passing the test. The controversy surrounding the claim might get you wondering:

What is the Baby Bar exam?

The First-Year Law Student’s Examination a.k.a. the Baby Bar is an exam conducted by the State Bar of California Committee of Bar Examiners. Twice a year, the exam is administered in Los Angeles and San Francisco in the months of June and October. 

The examination exists in two parts: essay questions and multiple-choice questions. There are only three subjects covered on the Baby Bar: contracts, criminal law, and torts. The rules tested are those of general applicability, not California-specific law.

What does it mean to pass the Baby Bar?

Passing the baby bar is important since the state of California won’t credit study that fails to comply with the requirement. After they first become eligible upon their completion of the first year of law school, students must pass the baby bar within three administrations of the test. Failure to do so can result in losing any credits for previous legal study leading to the baby bar.

Though not many people sit for the Baby Bar each time the test is offered, not many applicants pass this test either. The pass rates are not great on the Baby Bar. Approximately 1,000 people sat for the two 2013 sessions. June 2013 had a 24.1 percent overall pass rate (26.7 percent for first-time takers) and October 2013 had a 19.2 percent overall pass rate (23.5 percent for first-time takers).

California bar exam is notorious for being difficult. For Kardashian to have passed on her fourth try in 2 years, the internet may be abuzz with a legitimate reason, it appears.