White House new press secretary Katie Zacharia has sparked a row after claiming she practiced law in China, a statement that clashes with licensing records. She moved to Beijing with her husband in 2014 after graduating from Pepperdine Caruso Law School, and she told reporters she worked for Zhong Lun Law Firm for nearly two years. Yet the California State Bar issued a statement saying it has no record of her being licensed in California, nor any record of her passing a bar exam.
Pepperdine congratulated her on the appointment, noting her membership on the Dean’s Council, but the university did not confirm whether she sat for any state bar. In an interview with NewsNation, Zacharia said, "I practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials," a claim that lacks verifiable evidence.
Jared Nelson, CEO of Pathway Compliance, explained how foreign lawyers often work in Chinese firms under supervision before licensing. "Her statements of practicing law would likely be an unauthorized practice of law violation if she was not admitted to the bar somewhere," Nelson said. He added that the firm she joined normally hires foreign talent for roles that do not require a local license.
The White House has called Zacharia’s claim a misrepresentation, and the Office of the Press Secretary said the matter would be reviewed internally. The State Bar cannot confirm exam results but can confirm a pass, and the investigation will determine whether a formal reprimand is warranted.
The next step is an internal probe that could lead to disciplinary action if the allegations are substantiated. The outcome will likely be announced by the White House spokesperson by the end of next week.