The CPA's responsibility for client information

To mitigate problems with client information, CPAs need to understand the professional and legal issues involved and should know when it is prudent to consult legal counsel. Mere compliance with the AICPA professional standards is insufficient to ensure legal compliance. While the courts have, for the most part, relied upon generally accepted auditing standards to establish a CPA's standard of care, they do not recognize such standards as law. At times, the courts have held CPAs to a higher standard.