Thu Nov 21 04:31:56 UTC 2024: ## 17-Year-Old Makes History as Youngest California Lawyer

**Tulare, CA – November 20, 2024** – Sophia Park has made legal history, becoming the youngest person ever to pass the California State Bar Exam at the age of 17 years and 8 months. This achievement surpasses the previous record held by her brother by three months.

Park, who took the July 2024 bar exam alongside over 8,000 other candidates, learned of her success on November 8th. The notoriously challenging exam, which boasts a pass rate of just under 54%, has been conquered by this exceptional young legal mind.

“I am very happy and excited,” Park stated in a family video posted online.

Park’s accomplishment has been celebrated by her employer, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office. District Attorney Tim Ward commented, “Sophia’s amazing accomplishments speak for themselves, and we could not be prouder as an office family.”

Park’s rapid rise through the education system is equally impressive. She completed high school, college, and law school in approximately four years through a combination of advanced online courses and utilizing California’s provision allowing students to enter law school via College-Level Proficiency Exams (CLEP). She began law school at age 13, juggling her studies with junior high and later graduating from Northwestern California University School of Law in 2024.

Prior to passing the bar, Park gained valuable experience through a summer internship with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and subsequently worked as a law clerk for the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office.

While she will not be able to practice law until she turns 18 in March 2025, Park plans to join the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor, following in her brother’s footsteps. “As a prosecutor, I will work to see justice served and ensure that victims’ voices are heard,” she declared. Park’s remarkable journey serves as an inspiration, demonstrating the power of dedication and accelerated learning in achieving extraordinary goals.

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