Very interesting thread which I've read and thought about for a few days. Realistically I don't see regulation as curing the issues of lack of ethics and professionalism. You are either ethical and professional or you're not. Lawyers are regulated but, in a 30 year career I worked for one for a few years who thought that being a lawyer was spending most of his time at his summer home or ski chalet and floating about in his jag on the carphone. He'd be in for a day or two every 2 or 3 weeks, never returned phone calls (unless it was a high roller client) and desk 2 feet deep in papers and files which he never looked at.

We did land development and subdivisions. I met with the clients, the bankers and city hall, did all the deals, reporting and invoicing, working 6 or 7 days a week... I was the lawyer, which was terrifying. On the edge of a nervous breakdown I eventually fled. More than 12 years later he's still a licensed and practising lawyer. So much for regulation.

Just my two pennyworth.

Lynne

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