What types of activities increase or decrease accountant/auditor risks?

What do you believe is the current level of risk associated with accountants and auditors today?

How has the legal environment changed for accountants and auditors since Enron?

Has the Bernie Madoff case helped or hurt the risks that accountants and auditors face? How?

Some accounting professional firms take a strictly defensive approach to self-governance. What would be the advantage of the profession-prescribing policies and procedures that focus on potential ethical breaches, even when the issue does not involve a specific legal requirement? Support your answer with both moral reasoning and practical strategic business considerations.