White House press secretary defends use of lawyer title after failing bar exam
New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia has defended describing herself as a “lawyer” despite failing the California bar exam, saying she sought advice that it was acceptable to use the term while offering legal analysis rather than legal advice. Her explanation follows a brief, widely criticised first appearance at the White House podium and renewed questions about her professional credentials.
Zacharia said she was distracted by getting married before moving to China, where she said she would not need to pass a bar exam, and later did not retake it after having a baby. She said she received the press secretary job offer on Friday after flying to Washington on Thursday, and had briefing materials only the night before her Tuesday debut. The appearance lasted 14 minutes, included questions from three reporters, and was deliberately kept short, she said.
- Zacharia defended calling herself a lawyer despite failing the California bar.
- She cited marriage, a move to China and having children as context.
- Her first White House briefing lasted 14 minutes.
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The White House press secretary is the administration’s main spokesperson to journalists, answering questions and explaining the president’s policies. The role is political and does not require the holder to be a practising lawyer.
In the United States, lawyers generally need to pass a state bar exam to practise law there. California’s exam is one route to becoming licensed in that state; describing legal training or giving general legal analysis is different from being licensed to advise clients as a lawyer.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Zacharia’s defence is that “lawyer” can describe legal training or work providing legal analysis, even when someone has not passed a bar exam, and that she sought advice before using the title. Her account of not retaking the exam offers context for her credentials, while the hurried preparation for her first briefing may help explain its brevity.
The case against
Critics can reasonably argue that calling herself a “lawyer” risks giving the public a misleading impression of her qualifications, since she did not pass the bar exam and is not thereby licensed to practise law in California. For a senior government spokesperson, clear and precise descriptions of professional credentials matter to public trust, and limited preparation does not resolve that concern.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Trump’s new press secretary Katie Zacharia defends calling herself a ‘lawyer’ despite failing the bar exam and breaks her silence on disastrous White House debut”.