What happens when a law firm's incoming associate does not pass the bar exam?

The State Bar of California recently reported that only 31.4% of would-be attorneys passed California's February 2019 bar exam—the second-lowest pass rate California has seen in more than 30 years.

More than 4,600 people took the February test, and roughly 1,500 test-takers passed the exam, which means over 3,100 won't be able to practice law until at least July, when the next exam is administered. But many of them have already committed to jobs at law firms.