An 18-year-old Californian who passed the state bar exam at the age of 17 is now a practicing attorney. In a Facebook post, the Tulare County District Attorney’s office announced Peter Park’s record-breaking achievement, calling it a “legal history-making moment.” Notably, Park passed the state’s bar exam on his first attempt at the age of 17, breaking the previous record of an 18-year-old. He joined the office as a law clerk in August after finishing law school.
“In a legal history-making moment, Tulare County District Attorney law clerk Peter Park passed the rigorous California bar exam on his first attempt, making him the youngest person to ever pass the exam at age 17. According to research, the previous record holder was 18 years old. Park received his test results on November 9 after taking the exam in July,” the Facebook post read.
According to the post’s caption, Park began high school at the age of 13 in 2019 while also enrolling in a four-year law program at Northwestern California University School of Law. He was admitted because of a state bar rule that allows students to apply to law school after passing the College Level Proficiency Exams.
Peter Park is now one of California’s youngest practicing attorneys
According to the post, Park graduated from high school in 2021 and from law school in 2023. When he was 17, he passed the state’s bar exam on his first try and went to work for the district attorney’s office.
“It was not easy, but it was worth it. It required discipline and strategy to pass the Bar, and I made it in the end. I am extremely blessed to have discovered this path, and I hope that more people will realize that alternative paths exist to becoming attorneys,” Park said.
“I aspire to become a prosecutor because I am driven by a moral obligation to uphold liberty, equality, and justice in society. I admire how prosecutors keep our community safe and bring closure to victims,” he added.
Last week, Peter Park was sworn in as a practicing attorney, according to The Guardian. As a result, he is now one of the state’s youngest practicing attorneys.