White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is defending her self-description as a lawyer, stating that she consulted with legal professionals who advised it was acceptable to refer to herself as such. Zacharia’s legal credentials have drawn scrutiny since her first White House press briefing.
During a Thursday interview with Jack Posobiec, Zacharia addressed reports that she had not passed the bar exam. She acknowledged taking the exam after earning her law degree in 2011, prior to moving to Beijing with her husband. Zacharia stated that she did not want to withdraw from the exam and was distracted by her move and marriage.
“The results are somewhat inconsequential because I knew I wouldn’t need the bar in China, and we left shortly thereafter,” Zacharia said. The Wall Street Journal reported that Zacharia failed California’s bar exam in 2011 after graduating from Pepperdine University. A review of records for all 50 states and the District of Columbia found no evidence of her admission to practice law in the U.S.
In China, Zacharia worked in the international practice division of the Zhong Lun law firm. She said she worked on multimillion-dollar shareholder agreements and cross-border transactions, noting she had sufficient credentials with her law degree to practice there. Zacharia stated there is no Chinese bar and she had the necessary requirements to practice effectively.
Zacharia also mentioned she did not retake the bar exam after returning to the U.S. and having four children. She explained that legal field contacts advised her it would be acceptable to call herself a lawyer and provide legal analysis, but not legal advice. “They said absolutely, absolutely across the board, you can call yourself a lawyer, you have a JD, and to buffer that, you have international legal experience in transactional law,” Zacharia said.
She expressed disappointment that her situation was being framed as a conspiracy. “The truth is, I was very careful how I executed this, and I never came across as someone who was an attorney at law,” Zacharia stated.
Zacharia’s LinkedIn profile indicates she served as general counsel for Fix California, a political advocacy group, from January 2024 to March 2025. Practicing law or advertising oneself as an attorney without a license is a misdemeanor in California. Two watchdog groups have filed complaints against Zacharia with the State Bar of California.
The scrutiny of Zacharia’s qualifications comes as the White House navigates various legal and political challenges. For instance, a separate legal development involved a judge ordering the Trump White House to restore press access for CNN and competitors, highlighting ongoing tensions between the administration and media outlets.
