Do You Need AI Policies in Place Within Your Firm?

Publication Date: April 2026

Should you have AI policies in place within your firm even if you don’t use AI regularly? This topic was addressed during the 2026 California State Bar 29th Annual Statewide Ethics Symposium.

The consensus was "yes," based on two key points:

• First, many of today’s software applications have embedded AI systems, meaning you may be using it without realizing it.

• Second, there is the unknown factor of how clients are using AI to communicate, outline instructions, or even stipulate their legal demands to you.

To summarize the valuable insight offered by one panelist, ‘even if you don’t think you’re using it, you are using it, and it’s your duty to know what you’re using.’

With technology now deeply integrated within our business workflows, we must proactively manage emerging risks to protect clients and maintain high professional standards.