In brief
Katie Zacharia, the newly appointed White House press secretary, faces intense scrutiny over her legal credentials. President Trump previously described her as an attorney, yet she failed to pass a state bar exam. A watchdog group has filed a complaint with the California Bar, questioning her public claims about practising law. Legal experts explain how a law degree does not automatically grant the right to practice. Follow the unfolding story for the latest updates.
White House staff is defending new press secretary Katie Zacharia after questions arose about her claim to be a lawyer.
President Donald Trump called her an attorney in last week’s announcement, and she has self‑identified as a lawyer in public statements. When reporters asked where she had passed a bar exam, she replied, “When I moved to China.”
Sources say Zacharia never registered with any state bar. White House communications director Steven Cheung said she is “uniquely qualified and whip‑smart” to inform the American people.
She described her legal work as “international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials” in a statement earlier this week.
Campaign for Accountability has filed a complaint with the California State Bar, alleging that Zacharia has repeatedly claimed the right to practise law without a licence, constituting a potential violation of California law.
The 42‑year‑old political strategist earned a J.D. from Pepperdine University in 2011. She attempted the California bar exam after graduation but did not pass, according to the Wall Street Journal.
A lawyer’s admission to practice requires both a law degree and a passing score on a state bar exam, which she does not have.
On her first TV appearances, she consulted with Pepperdine’s president about her title, who advised that she could call herself a lawyer but not an attorney. She has also claimed experience working with International Finance Corporation and the World Bank while in China.
Legal analysts point out that foreign law firms in China employ lawyers in non‑practising roles, and that a foreign national cannot obtain a Chinese licence to practise law. Her LinkedIn profile lists time as an associate at Zhong Lun Law Firm (2011‑2013) and general counsel for the conservative nonprofit Fix California.
