Answer:
In general, firms in California are very particular about hiring candidates who have already been admitted to the CA bar. In my experience, they are stricter about this policy than any other state and that is likely due to a combination of California not having reciprocity with any state at any level of practice, as well as California being a very desirable place for attorneys to work.
That said, there are a few things to consider if you have not yet been admitted to the CA bar. First, what is your practice area? Typically it will be most difficult for litigators to find a job in California without admission to the bar whereas some transactional positions will be more lenient. Additionally, if you have a more niche practice such as capital markets or real estate, you are more likely to have a chance at a job with a California law firm without the bar than someone who has a more commonly found focus, such as commercial litigation.
