Eight Famous Bar Exam Failers For Inspiration

Eight Famous Bar Exam Failers For Inspiration

Although finding out you were unsuccessful on the Bar Exam can be devastating, you certainly aren’t alone in not passing. In fact, we’d say that you’re actually in very good company! Several well-known and highly successful public figures have failed the Bar Exam and gone on to do great things. We’re talking presidents, governors, politicians, and everything in between. Failing the Bar Exam is a difficult process in and of itself, but it does not mean you’re a failure. Don’t believe us? Here are eight famous bar exam failers who  will change your mind!

Eight Famous Bar Exam Failers For Inspiration

Michelle Obama

Yep, even an incredibly successful and well-known figure like Michelle Obama has failed the Bar Exam. Obama failed the Illinois Bar Exam despite being a Harvard graduate. She seems to have done O.K. for herself!

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Still don’t believe us? How about we include a previous President of the United States on the list. That’s right, President Roosevelt failed the New York Bar Exam on his first attempt. He later went on to be the 32^ndPresident of the United States. Not bad!

Kathleen Sullivan

Not sure who Kathleen Sullivan is? Former dean of Stanford Law School. Top constitutional law scholar. Named partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, one of the nation’s most prestigious litigation firms. Kathleen Sullivan failed the California Bar Exam in 2005 on her first attempt.

Hilary Clinton

Hilary Clinton needs no introduction. Successful attorney, former first lady, presidential candidate, and former secretary of state. Clinton was unable to pass the Washington D.C. Bar Exam despite being a graduate from Yale Law School. She later went on to pass the Arkansas Bar Exam.

Governor Jerry Brown

The former governor and Attorney General of California failed the California Bar Exam on his first attempt. Brown went on to have a very successful career as a public servant. He served as the 34^th and 39^th Governor of California and California Attorney General. Oh, he was also the mayor of Oakland, California!

Governor Pete Wilson

Governor Pete Wilson failed the California Bar Exam a whopping three times before passing. Wilson went on to be California’s 36^th governor as well as a Republican U.S. Senator. He was also the mayor of San Diego, and a California assemblyman.

John F. Kennedy Jr.

Yes, even the son of a former president and 1998’s “Sexiest Man Alive” according to People Magazine, has failed. John F. Kennedy Jr. failed the New York Bar Exam twice before finally passing on the third attempt. Kennedy Jr. went on to work as a district attorney in New York and launched the well-known political magazine George.

Paulina Bandy

If you’ve never heard of Paulina Bandy, know only this. Bandy has debatably failed the Bar Exam more than anybody else in the history of mankind. Bandy failed the California Bar Exam a mind-blowing 13 times before passing! Listen, if she can do it, you can do it. Failure was not an option for Bandy, and it shouldn’t be an option for you either!

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