Vermont

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Summary

Vermont has no formal ethics opinion on AI, no attorney-specific AI legislation, and no court standing orders requiring AI disclosure. The Vermont Judiciary Committee on Artificial Intelligence and the Courts released a First Annual Report (March 2025); its Disciplinary Rules Subcommittee recommended against amending the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct. A Rutland lawyer received attention in early 2026 for an AI-hallucinated motion in Bennington County but faced no formal discipline.

Applicable ABA Model Rules

Rule 1.1
Rule 1.3
Rule 1.4
Rule 1.5
Rule 1.6
Rule 3.1
Rule 3.3
Rule 5.1
Rule 5.3

Carrier Implications

ALPS is the VBA-endorsed carrier and has published national guidance noting AI-related claims may not be explicitly covered. Documented AI use policies, verification protocols, and vendor assessments may support favorable underwriting terms.

This summary is informational only. Verify the primary source before relying on this entry. Bar rules differ meaningfully by state. Consult a licensed attorney in your state.

Vermont has not issued a formal ethics opinion on AI as of 2026-04-23. Vermont Bar Counsel Michael Kennedy has stated publicly that amending the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct is not necessary. The Vermont Judiciary Committee on Artificial Intelligence and the Courts released its First Annual Report on 2025-03-01; its Disciplinary Rules Subcommittee concluded existing rules already govern AI use and that “the use of GAI does not change or alter a lawyer or judge’s professional obligations.”

A Rutland lawyer used AI to help draft a motion in a Bennington County DUI case in early 2026; the motion contained real citations with AI-fabricated quotations. The court allowed a supplemental corrective filing and imposed no formal discipline. No standing order from any Vermont state court or the District of Vermont requires AI disclosure. Bills H.341 and H.340 (high-risk AI and automated decision systems) died in committee.

Bottom line for a 5-50 attorney Vermont firm: No AI disclosure requirement exists in any Vermont or D. Vt. court today. Enforcement runs entirely through existing RPCs: 1.1, 1.6, 3.3, 5.1, and 5.3. The most actionable near-term risk is a confidentiality violation from inputting client data into a consumer-tier AI tool without reviewing data retention terms.

Last verified: April 23, 2026