There's a new youngest person to pass bar exam

California has a new youngest-ever passer of the bar exam -- with a familiar surname. And she might not be the last.

Sophia Park, 17, was among those who passed the July California State Bar. The results were posted on Sunday.

The news came a year after her older brother, Peter C. Park, accomplished the same feat. Both siblings were 17 when they received their results. But Peter Park said she was about three months younger than he was when he received his results.

In fact, he said, state rules mean she can't be sworn in as an attorney until she turns 18 in February. This means the siblings will essentially tie for the title of the state's youngest-ever attorney, despite her edge in passing the exam.

As of Tuesday morning, Sophia Park's LinkedIn page listed her as the "Youngest person to pass the California General Bar Exam." Peter Park's page lists him as "one of the youngest" to pass the bar. Her page identified her as a law clerk at the Tulare County district attorney's office; Peter Park is a deputy district attorney there.

"I feel like the journey has just begun," Sophia Park said in an email. "I am looking forward to working as a deputy district attorney alongside my older brother."

"I always knew she was going to pass," Peter Park said. "I think she studied way harder than I did."

The siblings each set the record using a formula devised by their father. Byungjoo Park was casting around for ideas for his son Peter, who had grown bored in school. He came across an article about two brothers who passed the California bar exam in their early 20s. Connor C. Shelton passed in 2012 at 21. His brother Parker C. Shelton passed in 2014 at 20.

Reached last year, Parker Shelton said he spent about $45,000 to graduate from Humphreys University Drivon School of Law in Stockton. The school is one of about two dozen in the state accredited by the State Bar's Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE), but not the American Bar Association.

Peter Park enrolled at another CBE-accredited school, Northwestern California University School of Law in Sacramento, at just 13, taking online classes while living at home. He told the Daily Journal last year that he spent just $15,000 on tuition and passing the bar by the time he graduated last year. Sophia Park attended the same school.

The Parks' younger sister, Sarah, is 14 and in her second year at the same school. Their father even published a book, "Fast-Track Attorney: Passing the Bar at Age 17."

A CBE-accredited law degree enables someone to take the California bar exam. Other states generally don't accept these degrees. But Northwestern California has provided a talent pipeline for Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward's office.

"Sophia's amazing accomplishments speak for themselves, and we could not be prouder as an office family," Ward said in an email. "It really is quite remarkable the success we have had with our law students, interns and law clerks attaining their professional dreams. The dividends for our office have been immense, and we are excited to be part of Sophia and Peter's continued success."