Getting into law school is the first part of the "interview." If you don't have the LSAT score, you won't get into a prestigious law school, full stop. If you aren't in a prestigious school, then a huge swath of elite positions are permanently closed to you. (In general -- yes there are a sprinkling of exceptions.) The bar exam has nothing to do with it -- everyone has to pass that, no matter what you do.

The second part of the interview is law school grades and certain extra curricular signals. You're right, there is only one "interview." But the analogy still holds up, with respect to the nature of the intelligence and memory tests.