A Journey Sparked by a Cause
Kim Kardashian’s legal journey officially began in 2018, a year that proved pivotal not only for her but also for Alice Marie Johnson, a 63-year-old woman serving a life sentence without parole for a first-time nonviolent drug offense. Moved by Johnson’s story, Kardashian worked tirelessly to bring national attention to the case, culminating in a meeting with then-President Donald Trump. That meeting resulted in Johnson’s sentence being commuted and, eventually, a full pardon in 2020.
The success of this campaign didn’t just change Johnson’s life—it also changed Kim Kardashian’s. It made her realize the power of advocacy and law in shaping lives. “I just felt like the system could be so different,” Kardashian told Vogue in 2019. “And I wanted to fight to fix it, and if I knew more, I could do more.”
Unlike traditional law students, Kardashian chose an alternative route available in California known as “reading the law.” This unique pathway allows aspiring attorneys to apprentice with a licensed lawyer or judge instead of attending a formal law school. Kim began a four-year apprenticeship with a law firm in San Francisco, balancing rigorous legal studies with her demanding roles as a businesswoman, media figure, and parent.
The Discipline of Law
Jackson revealed that over six years, Kardashian logged a staggering 5,184 hours of legal study. These hours were not abstract calculations; they were filled with legal briefs, constitutional arguments, client interviews, and court observations. “She did this while raising four children, filming television content, running businesses, and advocating in real courtrooms,” Jackson said.