Will a law firm hire me as a summer intern if I am a law school graduate but haven't passed the bar?

I graduated from law school a year ago and have some clinical experience, but desperately need some good, solid legal work. I plan on passing the bar in February (fingers crossed!) and would like to work as a summer intern for a firm, but don't know if they often limit their criteria exclusively to current law students. Also, I still need to eat, so do they even pay?

Yes, not as an associate (you can't be considered one unless you're a practicing attorney). What you would be called is either: (1) law clerk; (2) graduate law clerk; and/or (3) intern.

Yes, they will pay and it depends on what city, county, state you are in (plus the type of firm).

Yes, but not necessarily as a summer intern - they may just hire you as an associate. Having graduated from law school, you are technically as capable as you would be once you pass the bar. Many firms will pay/bill you as a paralegal until they can bill for you as an attorney.

yes of course a firm would hire you if you have the skill there looking for. they would also pay you but you would earn every penny of it

Law firms generally do not hire graduates as interns or clerks. You would be interviewing for a permanent associate position, which would almost certainly be contingent on passing the bar. Until your results are in, you would be utilized and billed as a paralegal (as was already mentioned).

More specifically to your case, since you've been out of school for some time and have yet to pass the bar or get a job, I can only assume that either a) you went to a bad school, or b) you did poorly at a marginal school. If that is the case, you may want to consider expanding your job search beyond firms. Not meant to offend, just some advice.

lawyers....and carsalesman:cant decide for which group i got no sympathy