Ethics/Professional Responsibility
Oct. 9, 2026
Nine questions to ask any AI vendor before Jan. 1
California's new AI law puts attorneys on notice to scrutinize vendors' confidentiality, data access, verification and privilege protections before using generative AI for client work.
John M. Jensen
John M. Jensen is a Los Angeles attorney practicing employment, administrative and business law. He is also the founder of ClearlyConcise, a legal technology company.
On Sept. 30, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 574. On Jan. 1, 2027, Business and Professions Code section 6068.1 becomes the first statute in the country to say, in terms, what a lawyer owes a client when generative artificial intelligence touches the client's work. The client alerts have been thorough about what the section says. This column is about the 90 days before it takes effect, and the one conversation those alerts do not script: the one with the vendor.
The duties...
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