Self-described 'lawyer' Katie Zacharia defends legal credentials

Press secretary Katie Zacharia has maintained her self-identification as a lawyer, despite failing to pass the United States bar exam. Appointed by President Donald Trump, Zacharia has described herself as a lawyer in various media appearances and on social media. She claimed that she had planned to keep her inaugural press briefing short, citing her excitement about moving to China with her husband.

According to a source familiar with the matter, Zacharia never passed the bar exam in the United States after graduating from Pepperdine University with a law degree. In California, it is illegal to practice law without proper credentials. When questioned about the bar exam failure, Zacharia said she had registered to take it but was distracted and overwhelmed by moving to China.

She listed experience at Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing on her LinkedIn page. Despite the scrutiny, Zacharia maintains she never presented herself as an attorney-at-law and that she was careful in her execution.