In the May cover story of Vogue, Kim Kardashian announced that she was studying (or “reading”) the law and that her goal is take the California Bar Exam in 2022. She isn’t attending a formal law school, but in California, attendance in a law school or graduation from a law school is not a prerequisite for taking the bar. Kim had hired two lawyers to basically guide her through her law school course work, and she studies and reads every day, basically. She told Vogue that she’s always had a passion for criminal law, but that tort law and contract law is sort of boring to her. Anyway, many people mocked Kim for, like, trying to improve herself and going back to school. I did not mock her – I think what Kim is doing is seriously admirable and cool. But Kim heard the mockery and criticism, and she posted this message to Instagram:
Last year I registered with the California State Bar to study law. For the next 4 years, a minimum of 18 hours a week is required, I will take written and multiple choice tests monthly. As my first year is almost coming to an end I am preparing for the baby bar, a mini version of the bar, which is required when studying law this way. I’ve seen some comments from people who are saying it’s my privilege or my money that got me here, but that’s not the case. One person actually said I should “stay in my lane.” I want people to understand that there is nothing that should limit your pursuit of your dreams, and the accomplishment of new goals. You can create your own lanes, just as I am. The state bar doesn’t care who you are. This option is available to anyone who’s state allows it.
It’s true I did not finish college. You need 60 college credits (I had 75) to take part in “reading the law”, which is an in office law school being apprenticed by lawyers. For anyone assuming this is the easy way out, it’s not. My weekends are spent away from my kids while I read and study. I work all day, put my kids to bed and spend my nights studying. There are times I feel overwhelmed and when I feel like I can’t do it but I get the pep talks I need from the people around me supporting me. I changed my number last year and disconnected from everyone because I have made this strict commitment to follow a dream of mine – It’s never too late to follow your dreams.
I want to thank Van Jones for believing in me and introducing me to Jessica Jackson. Jessica along with Erin Haney have taken on the role of my mentors and I am forever grateful to them both putting in so much time with me, believing in me and supporting me through this journey. This week I have a big torts essay due on negligence. Wish me luck
[From Kim Kardashian’s Instagram]
I think what bothered some people was the idea that Kim was like a real-life Elle Woods who just decided to go to law school, and that Kim didn’t actually know what she was doing. Clearly, Kim studied what it would take to go back to school and study the law. She is following the rules and she’s committed to this. Maybe she’ll get bored or get tired of it at some point, and if that happens, by all means, mock away. But I have to ask again: why would any of us criticize her for actually working towards improving herself? What part of this is really so offensive to Kim’s critics? Is that she’s mostly known as a superficial airhead and how dare she want to be anything more than that? Or is it something else?
All that being said, yes, Kim’s money and privilege absolutely played a part in what’s happening here. I wish she could own that – it wouldn’t hurt her argument one bit if she said, “Yes, I can do it this way because I’m a famous millionaire.”
Photos courtesy of Instagram, Backgrid.
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