Shield Law APC Apprentice Timothy Tran Passes the California Baby Bar Exam

August 21, 2026

Shield Law APC Apprentice Timothy Tran Passes the California Baby Bar Exam

Kim Kardashian brought widespread attention to California’s alternative path to becoming an attorney when she began studying law through a legal apprenticeship. Her journey also revealed just how demanding that path can be: she needed four attempts to pass California’s First-Year Law Students’ Examination, commonly known as the “Baby Bar.”


Today, Shield Law APC is proud to announce that our apprentice, Timothy Tran, has officially passed the California Baby Bar Exam. This significant accomplishment reflects countless hours of independent study, practical legal training, discipline, and determination.


What Is California’s Law Office Study Program?

California is one of the few states that permits aspiring attorneys to pursue a legal education without attending a traditional law school. Through the Law Office Study Program, participants study law under the supervision of a qualifying attorney or judge while gaining firsthand exposure to the legal profession.


The program should not be viewed as an easier substitute for law school. Apprentices must manage an intensive course of study while learning in a working legal environment. Without the daily structure of a traditional classroom, participants must remain accountable for mastering complex legal concepts, completing examinations, and meeting the requirements established by the State Bar of California.


Success in the program demands focus, consistency, strong time-management skills, and the ability to study independently. Timothy’s accomplishment demonstrates his commitment to each of those responsibilities.


What Is the California Baby Bar Exam?

The First-Year Law Students’ Examination is one of the first major hurdles for certain students pursuing nontraditional legal education in California. It is designed to evaluate whether a student has developed a strong understanding of foundational legal principles after completing the first year of law study.

The exam tests three core subjects:

  • Contracts
  • Criminal Law
  • Torts

The State Bar’s current exam format consists of 100 multiple-choice questions covering these areas. Candidates must do more than memorize rules. They must analyze detailed factual scenarios, identify relevant legal issues, and apply the law accurately under strict time constraints.


How Difficult Is the Baby Bar?

The Baby Bar is known for its low passage rates. According to the State Bar of California, only 22.6% of all applicants passed the June 2025 administration. Among first-time test-takers, the passage rate was 33.3%, while only 12.3% of repeat test-takers passed.

These numbers demonstrate why passing the exam is such a meaningful accomplishment. It represents the successful completion of a demanding early stage in the journey toward becoming a California attorney.


Timothy’s success is especially noteworthy because of the independence required by the Law Office Study Program. His achievement reflects not only his understanding of Contracts, Criminal Law, and Torts, but also the persistence necessary to continue moving forward through California’s rigorous legal education process.


An Important Step Toward Becoming a California Attorney

Passing the Baby Bar allows Timothy to move beyond one of the first major barriers in the Law Office Study Program and continue advancing toward his goal of practicing law in California.


This milestone may also help Timothy pursue certification through the State Bar’s Certified Law Student Program, subject to the program’s remaining eligibility, application, supervision, and approval requirements. Certified law students may perform certain legal activities under the supervision of an approved attorney, providing valuable opportunities to further develop practical legal skills.

Passing the Baby Bar does not mark the end of Timothy’s journey, but it is an important and hard-earned step forward.


Shield Law APC Congratulates Timothy Tran

On behalf of everyone at Shield Law APC, we proudly congratulate Timothy Tran on passing the California First-Year Law Students’ Examination.


Timothy has demonstrated determination, discipline, and a genuine commitment to the law throughout his apprenticeship. We are proud to support his continued development and look forward to watching him reach the next milestones in his legal career.


Congratulations, Timothy. This achievement was well earned, and we are excited to see what comes next.



Learn more about Shield Law APC and our team by visiting https://www.shieldlawapc.com/.

Pass-rate and exam-format information was verified using the State Bar of California’s June 2025 statistics and FYLSX exam overview.

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