California codifies verification duties for lawyer AI use
On September 30, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 574, according to Reuters on October 1, creating the first state statute specifically governing lawyers’ and arbitrators’ use of generative AI; the operative requirements take effect January 1, 2027.
Inside Practice · OCTOBER 6, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
On September 30, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 574, according to Reuters on October 1, creating the first state statute specifically governing lawyers’ and arbitrators’ use of generative AI; the operative requirements take effect January 1, 2027. Lawyers may not delegate legal practice to AI, must personally verify citations in court filings, take reasonable steps to verify outputs, correct false material and protect confidential or nonpublic information. Mid-sized firms serving California matters should convert these duties into documented review steps, approved-tool rules and evidence of training rather than treating them as a general ethics reminder. The capacity risk is material because personal verification can shift work back to partners or supervising lawyers unless the workflow captures provenance and review efficiently.