Tennessee

pending

Summary

Tennessee has no formal ethics opinion from the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility (TBPR) and no binding AI guidance. The Tennessee Bar Association established an AI Task Force in 2024 chaired by A.J. Bahou, but no formal recommendations have been published. ABA Formal Opinion 512 is the operative interpretive framework. The Tennessee Supreme Court issued a 2024 order on access-to-justice reforms that could include AI-delivered legal services.

Applicable ABA Model Rules

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

Carrier Implications

Attorneys Insurance Mutual of the South (AIM) is bar-endorsed and treats ABA Opinion 512 as the standard of care. Standard LPL policies generally lack AI-specific exclusions but coverage may turn on whether AI output was reviewed; intentional acts and UPL exclusions are key risks.

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.

Tennessee is in the “task force, no opinion yet” category. The TBPR has issued no formal ethics opinion on AI, and the Tennessee Bar Association’s AI Task Force (established 2024, chaired by A.J. Bahou) remains in an educational and exploratory phase with no published formal recommendations. The Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct mirror the ABA Model Rules, so ABA Formal Opinion 512 functions as the most authoritative available framework.

No Tennessee federal district (E.D., M.D., or W.D. Tenn.) has issued an AI-specific standing order. However, in Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. v. Philipson (W.D. Tenn., May 2024), Chief Judge Sheryl Lipman characterized AI-generated fictitious citations as a “scourge,” signaling heightened judicial awareness. The Tennessee Supreme Court issued a 2024 order seeking public comment on access-to-justice reforms that could include AI-delivered legal services. Tennessee has enacted the ELVIS Act (effective 2024-07-01) and SB 1580 (effective 2026-07-01); neither directly governs attorney conduct but both create new litigation exposure.

Bottom line for a 5-50 attorney Tennessee firm: Absent state guidance, ABA Formal Opinion 512 sets the standard of care. Document AI use policies now and watch for the TBA Task Force to publish formal guidance.

Last verified: April 24, 2026