California MCLE that covers ABA Formal Opinion 512
National CLE catalogs list Opinion 512 programs. California attorneys still need a course that also maps the California State Bar Practical Guidance. This page is not legal advice.
ABA Formal Opinion 512 (July 29, 2024) is the ABA Standing Committee's guidance on generative artificial intelligence tools. It does not create new Model Rules. It maps existing duties onto generative tools: competence (1.1), communication (1.4), fees (1.5), confidentiality (1.6), candor (3.3), and supervision (5.1 and 5.3).
California attorneys also work under the California State Bar Practical Guidance on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Practice of Law (November 2023). A CLE that only summarizes Opinion 512 without that California overlay is incomplete for a California compliance period.
What to look for in an Opinion 512 CLE for California
- Ethics credit that is actually about the rules. Opinion 512 is ethics guidance. The useful programs spend time on Rules 1.1, 1.6, 3.3, 5.1, and 5.3, not only on product demos.
- California Practical Guidance, named. Ask whether the syllabus covers the State Bar's November 2023 guidance, not only national Model Rules.
- Verification and candor. Hallucinated citations and filings that left the office without a check are the public record behind Rule 3.3 and competence. See what to do if a hallucinated citation already reached a filing.
- Supervision and firm policy. Partners and managers need a written policy, not a one-line "use AI carefully" email. See what a law firm AI use policy should include.
- Vendor diligence under Rule 1.6. Confidentiality is a contract and architecture problem before it is a chatbot problem. See questions to ask an AI vendor before a law firm signs.
- Accreditation status stated plainly. If California MCLE accreditation is pending, the page should say so. Do not treat a marketing claim as a provider number.
How the alcbar.com course maps to that list
Ethics-Safe AI Use for Law Firms is an on-demand California MCLE course built around Opinion 512, the California Practical Guidance, and the public sanctions record (including Mata v. Avianca). It includes five modules, a 111-page reading, and a 35-question assessment.
- Claimed credit allocation: 6.0 California MCLE hours — 4.0 Ethics, 1.0 Technology in Practice, 1.0 Competence/Wellness.
- Format: self-study video (~73 minutes across five credited modules), required reading, written assessment (80% to pass, unlimited retakes).
- Vendor stance: vendor-neutral. No product pitch inside the ethics modules.
- Price: $249 for the on-demand course.
- Accreditation: California MCLE accreditation is pending. The certificate is issued when the provider number is assigned. California MCLE rules permit self-study completion in advance of provider number assignment; confirm your compliance period requirements with the State Bar.
What this page is not claiming
This page does not claim a California provider number exists today. It does not claim the course is better than ABA Learning Center, myLawCLE, CLA, BARBRI, or any other provider. It does not guarantee compliance, prevent sanctions, or satisfy a court, insurer, or client. Compare syllabi against Opinion 512 and the California Practical Guidance, then choose.
Related guides: firm AI use policy, vendor questions, hallucinated citation already filed.
The on-demand California MCLE course is $249. It includes the five modules, the 111-page reading, and the 35-question assessment. California MCLE accreditation is pending. The certificate is issued when the provider number is assigned. The course does not guarantee compliance, prevent sanctions, or satisfy a court, insurer, or client.