Just curious: How can you be hired if you have not passed the bar?

[SmilingFish]

I heard people say that you want to secure a job before graduating from law school. However, nobody would take the bar and pass it before graduating, then how do people hire you? What do they look at when hiring someone who is still in law school and we are not sure if he or she is going to pass the bar?

What if the law student is hired, signed contract and all that, what if he did not pass the bar, will he be dismissed?

This question also lead to: what should you present and how should you sell yourself while seeking an employeement before graduating from law school?

[Thane Messinger]

What if the law student is hired, signed contract and all that, what if he did not pass the bar, will he be dismissed?

The answer, as always, is "it depends." 

But, in the end the answer is "Yes."  At the very least, it is *extremely* embarrassing for a new associate to fail the bar.

[cooley3L]

Hired contingent on passing it. You fail, you don't get it.
That, or they are willing to invest pay in you to help train you (within your limited legal ability)  while waiting for you pass it. If you pass, you get your bigboy pants and a paybump, if not.........

People who get these offers tend to be top of class students with high GPAs and impressive resumes. Many were interns at the firm while in school.

Other jobs don't require passing the bar at all. They just would prefer it. (govt jobs mostly)

[Maintain FL 350]

What if the law student is hired, signed contract and all that, what if he did not pass the bar, will he be dismissed?

Usually firms will hire you on as a law clerk with the undertsanding that you'll be promoted to associate upon passing the bar. Your promotion is simply contingent. A lot of places will give someone two chances to pass, but some won't. 

[Groundhog]

At many firms the work you do before and after passing the bar/getting sworn in is no different. There will be a senior attorney signing off on your work. Obviously until then, you can't go to court or do anything like that without supervision.