--- title: "New Jersey: AI rules for lawyers" url: "https://ailawframework.com/jurisdictions/new-jersey" type: "jurisdiction" site: "AI Law Framework" id: "US-NJ" kind: "state" country: "US" parent: "United States" last_checked: "2026-10-31" as_of: "2026-10-31" last_reviewed: "2026-11-03" --- # New Jersey: AI rules for lawyers > New Jersey: court and regulator AI instruments and the tasks that change here. Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/jurisdictions/new-jersey Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt ## What this means for lawyers Check and verify everything AI generates. The guidelines treat failure to do so as a possible breach of the RPCs (3.1, 4.1(a)(1), 8.4(c)). Tell a client about your AI use if they ask, or if they could not make an informed decision without knowing. There is no duty to tell them every time. Make sure an AI system is secure before entering non-public client information (RPC 1.6(f)), and supervise other lawyers' and staff's AI use (RPCs 5.1–5.3). The Court encourages (does not require) a written firm AI policy; it says a policy is not a "safe harbor". Its sample template covers citation verification and built-in AI features in everyday software. As at 31 October 2026. ## Telling the court and the client **Tell the court:** Unclear Court disclosure: no rule found. The interim guidelines say the RPCs do not require disclosure of AI use. No court rule or standing order requiring disclosure was found in the sources read. Client disclosure/consent: depends. No duty to tell clients every time, but a duty to do so if the client asks or cannot make an informed decision without knowing. - [Notice to the Bar: Legal Practice – Preliminary Guidelines on the Use of AI by New Jersey Lawyers](https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/notices/2024/01/n240125a.pdf) **Tell the client:** Varies Same basis and sources as above. ## Last checked Last checked 31 October 2026. ## What changed in New Jersey in the last 12 months - 1 January 2027 · Dated: [Order amending Court Rule 1:42-1 and CLE Regulations 103:1 and 201:1: one credit in technology-related subjects (includes AI)](#ai-rule-jr-us-nj-tech-cle-rule-1-42-1) ## AI instruments ### Courts and tribunals #### Order amending Court Rule 1:42-1 and CLE Regulations 103:1 and 201:1: one credit in technology-related subjects (includes AI) - Type: Court rule or order · Court rule - Issuer: Supreme Court of New Jersey; Board on Continuing Legal Education - Date on page: 31 March 2026 - Effective date: 1 January 2027 - Status: 1 January 2027; start date not confirmed - Last checked 31 October 2026 - URL: https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/notices/2026/03/n260401b.pdf Rule 1:42-1 now requires at least one of the 24 CLE hours per two-year cycle to be in technology-related subjects. The definition in Regulation 103:1(t) includes, but is not limited to, developments in AI including generative AI, legal technology, electronic evidence, cybersecurity and data protection, electronic legal research, brief-writing and preparation of court and client materials, and oversight of outside vendors. Compliance reporting begins with the cycle ending 31 December 2027; attorneys in the cycle ending 31 December 2026 need not report it. Key points: - Applies to every attorney licensed in New Jersey. - First reporting cycle ends 31 December 2027 (reported early 2028). - The notice refers to a 'March 26, 2026 Order' but the attached Order and rule note are dated 31 March 2026; the discrepancy is on the face of the documents. - The notice says the definition of 'technology-related subjects' was informed by public comments and aligns substantively with New York's comparable CLE regulation. (The Court's earlier decision not to add a technology comment to RPC 1.1 is in the separate April 2025 notice record.) #### Notice to the Bar: Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Related Technologies – Benefits of AI Policies (with sample starter template) - Type: Law society or bar guidance · Bar guidance - Issuer: Supreme Court of New Jersey (notice signed by Hon. Michael J. Blee, J.A.D., Acting Administrative Director of the Courts) - Date on page: 30 March 2026 - Effective date: Not stated - Status: 2026-03-30; start date not confirmed - Last checked 31 October 2026 - URL: https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/notices/2026/03/n260330c.pdf The Court encourages New Jersey attorneys and law firms to develop, adopt and periodically update internal AI policies as part of maintaining competence and ethical compliance. It says attorneys remain fully responsible for their work product and professional obligations under the RPCs (including RPCs 1.1, 1.6, 5.1, 5.3 and 3.3), and that a policy is not a safe harbour. A starter template is attached; its sample rules include human review of AI output, verification of citations against an official source before filing, and checking tool privacy settings, including built-in AI features in everyday software. Key points: - Encouraged, not mandated: the notice says adopting a policy is encouraged but is not a 'safe harbor'. - Policies are said to help with confidentiality, accuracy review, third-party use of AI, training and updating practices. - Starter template is an example only; its confidentiality section offers alternative options for the firm to choose from. - Embedded or background AI features in commonly used platforms are expressly mentioned. - Template section (6) offers client-communication options (tell clients when they ask; tell them before AI is used in any material way; warn of privilege risks if the client puts information into AI), and says more disclosure or consent may be appropriate. #### Notice to the Bar: Attorney Responsibilities as to Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies – New Requirement of One CLE Credit in Technology-Related Subjects; RPC 1.1 comment declined - Type: Court policy - Issuer: Supreme Court of New Jersey (notice signed by Hon. Michael J. Blee, J.A.D., Acting Administrative Director of the Courts) - Date on page: 2 April 2025 - Effective date: Not stated - Status: 2025-04-02; start date not confirmed - Last checked 31 October 2026 - URL: https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/notices/2025/04/n250404a.pdf The Court announced it had approved a one-credit-per-two-year-cycle CLE requirement in technology-related subjects for all New Jersey licensed attorneys. The notice says this followed two proposals from the Supreme Court Committee on AI and the Law aimed at the risks of AI and other emerging technologies, and that the Court declined the other proposal, to add a comment to RPC 1.1 on keeping abreast of relevant technology. The definition and timing were later set out in the March 2026 order and Notice to the Bar, which refers back to this announcement. Key points: - Court declined to add a technology-competence comment to RPC 1.1. - Further detail and timing were deferred to a later notice. ### Government and other bodies #### Preliminary Guidelines on the use of AI by New Jersey lawyers - Type: Court practice note or direction · Court guideline - Issuer: Supreme Court of New Jersey Committee on AI - Date on page: Not stated - Effective date: 25 January 2024 - Status: Issued 25 January 2024; start date not confirmed - Last checked 10 October 2026 - URL: https://www.njcourts.gov/attorneys/artificial-intelligence-use-courts - Recorded under United States; shown here because the issuer is in New Jersey. No new obligations; highlights RPCs: lawyers responsible for submissions, must not submit false content, must secure AI systems. Key points: - NJ Courts AI page: https://btlaw.com/en/insights/alerts/2024/new-jersey-judiciary-releases-preliminary-guidelines-for-unavoidable-use-of-ai-by-attorneys ## Sources - Supreme Court of New Jersey; Board on Continuing Legal Education: [Order amending Court Rule 1:42-1 and CLE Regulations 103:1 and 201:1: one credit in technology-related subjects (includes AI)](https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/notices/2026/03/n260401b.pdf) · last checked 31 October 2026 - Supreme Court of New Jersey (notice signed by Hon. Michael J. Blee, J.A.D., Acting Administrative Director of the Courts): [Notice to the Bar: Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Related Technologies – Benefits of AI Policies (with sample starter template)](https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/notices/2026/03/n260330c.pdf) · last checked 31 October 2026 - Supreme Court of New Jersey (notice signed by Hon. Michael J. Blee, J.A.D., Acting Administrative Director of the Courts): [Notice to the Bar: Attorney Responsibilities as to Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies – New Requirement of One CLE Credit in Technology-Related Subjects; RPC 1.1 comment declined](https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/notices/2025/04/n250404a.pdf) · last checked 31 October 2026 - Supreme Court of New Jersey Committee on AI: [Preliminary Guidelines on the use of AI by New Jersey lawyers](https://www.njcourts.gov/attorneys/artificial-intelligence-use-courts) · last checked 10 October 2026 - [Notice to the Bar: Legal Practice – Preliminary Guidelines on the Use of AI by New Jersey Lawyers](https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/notices/2024/01/n240125a.pdf) · last checked 31 October 2026 ## Key facts - Kind: State - Task versions written for this jurisdiction: 0 - AI instruments recorded: 4 *Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*