Regulation Tracker / United States (state)
Proposed amendments to Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.4, 1.6, 3.3, 5.1 and 5.3 related to artificial intelligence
State Bar of California · California
last revised 2026-03-13last verified 2026-09-031 version
ConsultationProposedVerification dutySupervisionCompetenceConfidentiality
Proposed amendments to the California Rules of Professional Conduct that would write AI duties directly into the rules: verification of cited authorities, firm-level AI governance policies under Rule 5.1, and instruction of nonlawyer assistants under Rule 5.3. Public comment closed 4 May 2026 and the Board of Trustees considered them in mid May 2026. Adoption requires the California Supreme Court.
- Applies to
- lawyers, firms
- Effective
- See version history
- Current version
- Public comment draft (COPRAC approved 13 March 2026) · 13 Mar 2026
- Last verified
- 03 Sept 2026
What the document requires
- Would amend Rule 3.3 to require verification that authorities cited to a tribunal exist and support the proposition.
- Would amend Rule 5.1 to require managerial lawyers to adopt AI governance policies.
- Would amend Rule 5.3 to require instruction of nonlawyer staff on AI use.
- Would add AI competence and confidentiality comments to Rules 1.1, 1.4 and 1.6.
- Not yet adopted by the California Supreme Court as of September 2026.
Version history
| Version | Date | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public comment draft (COPRAC approved 13 March 2026)current | 2026-03-13 | First version recorded. | official |
Related court incidents on the record
- Noland v. Land of the Free, L.P., No. B331918 (Cal. Ct. App.)2025-09-12 Sanctions
Sources
Cite this record
SafeLegalAI Legal AI Regulation Tracker, "Proposed amendments to Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.4, 1.6, 3.3, 5.1 and 5.3 related to artificial intelligence" (State Bar of California, Public comment draft (COPRAC approved 13 March 2026), 2026-03-13), safelegalai.com/regulation/us-state/ca-state-bar-proposed-ai-rule-amendments (accessed 2026-09-04). Data: CC BY 4.0.
More official documents in United States (state)
- Connecticut Judicial Branch, Committee on Artificial Intelligence in the Connecticut Legal System: Final Report · Connecticut Judicial Branch
- Connecticut Practice Book Section 4-9: Generative Artificial Intelligence Compliance · Connecticut Judicial Branch
- In re Amendments to Article V, Rule 1.1 of the Supreme Court Rules (Professional Conduct) and Adoption of Interim Generative AI Guidelines · RI Supreme Court
- Ohio Ethics Guide: Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers and Judicial Officers · Ohio Board of Professional Conduct
- 22 NYCRR Part 161 — Use of Artificial Intelligence Technology · NY Unified Court System
- In re Amendments to Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.515 (generative AI), SC2026-0673 · Florida Supreme Court