A Trump administration official argued that the White House press secretary could technically be considered a “lawyer.” Legal experts have disputed that argument.
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia did not pass the California bar exam when she took it after graduating from law school, according to a senior administration official.
The official argued that Zacharia could technically be considered a “lawyer,” though not an attorney. Donald Trump referred to Zacharia as an “attorney” in his Truth Social post announcing that he was tapping her as press secretary.
But several lawyers told NBC News that “lawyer” is widely understood to refer to someone who has passed the bar exam and is licensed to practice law.
Zacharia’s failure to pass the bar exam was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. The new White House press secretary is facing questions about her legal credentials after the White House has not said whether Zacharia, who has repeatedly referred to herself as a lawyer, passed the bar exam.
I think the legality depends on what actions you take. If you just tell people that and don’t provide legal services or advice, it’s probably not illegal.
It’s definitely illegal. The issue is portraying yourself as an attorney for a benefit which in this case is a job. There’s no way that claim has no factoring in her hiring and if it didn’t it would imply bribery or nepotism.
But why would being a lawyer help get a job as a press secretary?
Most press secretaries have a field speciality that is helpful with that administration’s plans and motivations. Levitt was a political journalist that went to school for it, huck sans was poly sci/mass comm.
And we don’t know, finding out what would normally spark an investigation.
Well sweet! I’m gonna just add IAAL on my resume then!
That one might be fraud, but I’m definitely not a lawyer.
Adding I ANAL to your resume might get you a different kind of job
Screw that, ima be Justice of the Supreme Court!