Smokeball: California's AI proposal clarifies familiar lawyer duties
Smokeball's analysis says the California Bar proposal requiring verification of AI-generated outputs does not create a fundamentally new duty; it formalizes the expectation that lawyers stand behind accuracy regardless of source.
BY MIDSIZED DESK · JUNE 9, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
Smokeball's analysis says the California Bar proposal requiring verification of AI-generated outputs does not create a fundamentally new duty; it formalizes the expectation that lawyers stand behind accuracy regardless of source. The piece frames verification as analogous to Shepardizing, cite-checking, and reviewing a junior lawyer's work. This framing helps midsized firms train lawyers without making AI governance feel exotic: verify sources, confirm citations, check context, and document review steps.