SAN FRANCISCO — The State Bar of California has revised its proposed amendments to the state's Rules of Professional Conduct governing attorneys' use of artificial intelligence after reviewing public comments, with the updated draft set to undergo another round of public consultation, according to the bar and legal industry reports.
The revisions were approved on June 12 by the State Bar's Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct (COPRAC) following a public comment period that ended in May. A second public comment period is scheduled to begin in August before any proposal advances further in the rulemaking process.
The proposed amendments are intended to clarify lawyers' ethical obligations when using artificial intelligence in legal practice. According to the State Bar, the changes address professional duties involving competence, communication with clients, confidentiality, candor toward tribunals, and the supervision of lawyers and nonlawyer staff using AI tools.
The original proposal, released for public comment earlier this year, would require attorneys to independently review, verify and exercise professional judgment over AI-generated work before relying on it in representing clients. It also would clarify that lawyers must verify the accuracy and existence of legal authorities cited in court filings, including material generated or assisted by artificial intelligence.
Following feedback from lawyers and other stakeholders, the State Bar revised portions of the proposal, including changes affecting confidentiality standards and competence requirements, according to a State Bar statement reported by Bloomberg Law. The revisions also modify proposed disclosure obligations related to attorneys' use of AI.
"The updated Practical Guidance will continue to serve as a living document that is periodically revised as the technology evolves and new issues are presented," the State Bar said after its Board of Trustees approved revisions to its separate Practical Guidance for the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law in May.
The proposed rule changes stem in part from an August 2025 letter from the California Supreme Court directing the State Bar to consider incorporating principles from its AI guidance into the Rules of Professional Conduct and to address emerging agentic AI technologies.
California's efforts come as courts and regulators across the United States continue responding to concerns over fabricated legal citations and other errors produced by generative AI, prompting broader discussions about safeguards for lawyers using the technology.
The proposed amendments have not been adopted. According to the State Bar, they will be subject to another public comment period before any further action is taken.
