He Passed the Bar and Is Now the Youngest Attorney at Just 17 Years Old

Millions of viewers were introduced to Doogie Howser, the freakishly smart, 14-year-old fictional doctor in the 1990’s medical sitcom Doogie Howser, M.D., but most don’t know the identity of the brilliant, hard-working, real teen who is now California’s youngest attorney ever! His name is Peter Park.

Peter Park is an 18-year-old Korean American who passed the rigorous California Bar exam on his inaugural attempt in July 2023. He was 17 at the time and the youngest person to ever pass the test!

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On top of that, the California and Delaware bar exams are considered to be the two most challenging in the country. Half of all attempts in The Golden State result in failure! 

Becoming The Youngest Attorney

When Peter was just 13, he began high school at the Oxford Academy in Cypress, CA; it was 2019. At the same time, Peter enrolled in a four-year juris doctor program at Northwestern California University. He had not yet graduated from high school or received an undergraduate degree, but a California state bar rule allowed him to enter law school upon completion of College Level Proficiency Exams (CLEPS). 

By 2021, Peter had completed high school and was focusing solely on law school. Of course, Peter is intellectually gifted, but he says that it wasn’t a simple undertaking. Peter shared, “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 my hope is that more people will realize that alternative paths exist to becoming an attorney.” 

Ready To Practice Law

Peter graduated from law school in 2023, but it was months before he learned the results of his July examination. In August, Peter began working as a law clerk for the Tulare County District Attorney’s office, finally learning that he had successfully passed the strenuous test in November.

On December 5, 2023, Peter was sworn in and is now a practicing attorney. Peter has only begun to set goals. He knows exactly what he’d like to do with his education. “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.” 

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Outstanding, Peter Park! Go make your mark!

“But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5

WATCH: 17-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Attorney

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h/t:  Good News Network

Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Tulare County District Attorney's Office

Hally is a freelance writer, blogger, and mental health advocate. A former school counselor, Hally works for a nonprofit that distributes tax dollars to mental health and prevention education providers that serve her county's kids and families. She's a contributor to a devotional and two essay collectives, and she shares resources and wisdom regarding parenting teens, mental health, faith, adoption, and more at http://www.hallyjwells.com where she strives to "Dig Deep and Reach High." She and her husband have three adult children and one rascally beagle pup. Hally loves travel, her book club sisters, personality tests, and a great glass of iced tea.