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Teen beats out brother to become state’s youngest qualified lawyer

"I may have beaten my brother's record, but I certainly couldn't have done it without all his help."

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By Harrison Moore via SWNS

A teenager says she has become the youngest qualified lawyer in her state - beating her BROTHER'S record.

Katrinnah Darden, 19, has passed the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) in Alabama - surpassing sibling Seth Harding, 21.

The pair are from a brood of 10 children who were all home schooled on an advanced curriculum from a very young age.

Katrinnah graduated college at just 15 and has gone on to beat her brother's record for Alabama's youngest qualified lawyer by several months.

She was 19 and six months, while Seth was 19 and 11 months old - a difference of 151 days, the family said.

"It has been my dream to become an attorney for ten years, and it feels so good to say I've finally done it.

"I may have beaten my brother's record, but I certainly couldn't have done it without all his help."

Katrinnah, from Montgomery, graduated Huntingdon College in 2018 when she was just 15.

A year later, she enrolled in a three-year course at Thomas Goode Jones School of Law to fulfil her dream of becoming an attorney.

She passed each year and graduated law school in May 2022.

But to become a qualified lawyer in the US, graduates must take the UBE - and the pass mark varies in each individual state.

Seth was called to the bar back in 2020 - making him Alabama's youngest qualified lawyer.

But Katrinnah knew if she was to pass the exam first time around she'd beat his record, because of her birthday.

She studied for months on end, and sat the exam in July this year. She then received her results days ago.

Thankfully, she passed, scoring 292 out of 400.

Her high score has meant she has also passed in all other UBE states, and has taken the record off her brother's hands.

"I'd studied for three years in preparation for this exam and now I've passed, I know it was all worth it," she said.

"To pass in Alabama you have to achieve a mark of 260, but I did better than that, and therefore have passed in every other UBE state as well.

"I had a helping hand in that my brother sat and passed the same exam two years ago.

"He helped me so much with my revision, and gave me pep talks when I needed them most.

"When I found out I'd passed, he was the first person I called.

"He passed the exam at 19 as well, but because I have a March birthday and he is October, I beat his record.

"It's a nice feeling breaking the record, but the most important thing is I am now a qualified attorney, which has been my dream for as long as I can remember."

Seth was over the moon that his sister passed the exam and says he couldn't be prouder of her.

"As her older brother, I am extremely proud of Katie," he said.

"More than academic performance, I am proud of the character, wisdom, and faith she has developed on her journey.

"Life comes with many valleys and mountain tops, and I know Katie and I both believe the only true way to respond to either is to praise God.

"I know she will be a blessing and guide to many people over the course of her career and hope that she will continue to surpass me."

Since graduating law school and sitting the exam, Katrinnah has been working as a law clerk for the Foundation for Moral Law - a non-profit law firm.

This month there will be an Admissions Ceremony in downtown Montgomery for this year's new lawyers who passed the exam.

Once she is sworn in, she will be a licensed attorney and can begin to practice law.

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