The Institute of Legal Cashiers and Administrators (ILCA) has launched a campaign to promote itself and its members to law firms, taking a stand at the Law Society Annual Conference and also appointing PR people.

And the message it has is rather strongly worded.

According to ILCA honorary president Barry Hilton, there is a valid comparison to make between the recent outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong and the Solicitors Accounts Rules.

Yes, really, there is.

Mr Hilton explains: 'The world was in the grip of SARS.

Was it to be another Black Death? Countries were "closed" and economies threatened.

Is the threat of SARS within the legal community being given the same serious consideration? The consequences for individual firms can be just as disastrous.

Lack of compliance with the rules is the cause of many costly defaults and contributes to the loss of public confidence in the profession.' Overblown? Maybe.

But ILCA has made it to these pages, so perhaps the strategy is working.