California could become the first jurisdiction to require law schools to train students on artificial intelligence and its responsible use, under a proposal discussed by the State Bar of California.
The State Bar’s Committee of Bar Examiners is considering adding AI training to the six credits of practice-based competency courses that law students must complete before graduating from California-accredited and unaccredited law schools. The change could be formally proposed as early as next month, according to Reuters.
AI training proposed for legal education
If adopted, the requirement would cover topics including the proper use, capabilities and limitations of artificial intelligence tools. The proposal would also add AI instruction to the professional responsibility course already required for law students.
The rule would apply to 25 law schools accredited by the State Bar of California, as well as unaccredited institutions approved by the state. However, it would not apply to the 17 law schools in California accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
California allows graduates from all three types of law schools to take the state’s bar exam.
Growing role of AI in the legal profession
The proposal reflects the rapid spread of AI tools across the legal industry.
Law firms increasingly use artificial intelligence to assist with research, document review and drafting legal filings. The shift has also led to a surge of startups developing specialized legal AI software.
At the same time, courts have begun warning lawyers about the risks of relying on generative AI without proper oversight. Judges have sanctioned several attorneys for filing documents that contained fabricated citations generated by AI systems, often referred to as “hallucinations.”
Because of those risks, regulators and educators are increasingly focused on training future lawyers to understand how AI systems work and how they should be used responsibly.
Support and skepticism among law schools
Interest in AI training is already rising among law students and faculty. Many ABA-accredited schools have added AI-related courses or workshops, and student groups dedicated to legal technology are becoming more common.
A survey conducted by the State Bar earlier this year found strong support for teaching AI in law school, with 89% of deans from California-accredited and unaccredited schools agreeing that students should receive such training.
However, support was more mixed when it came to making AI instruction mandatory.
Only 45% of deans said the state bar should require AI coursework, while 56% believed their current curriculum already prepares students to use the technology.
If the rule moves forward, California would become the first jurisdiction to formally integrate AI competency into legal education requirements, signaling how quickly artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal profession.
