Leaner Law Society ditches annual conference

I am disappointed to hear this. When well-organised the Law Society Conference attracted considerable numbers - the joint conferences with the ABA and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association both spring to mind. The fact that external organisations added their own lustre is perhaps a clue.There will be those that say well done to Holroyd and Hudson. To my mind this is a purely political gesture by Hudson aimed at placating those in Council who feel he has done little to rein in the costs of his predecessor, Paraskeva, which also suits his President to show how much the Society loves the regions - in the manner of a touring version of the local law societies conference (which remains admittedly popular.) I always enjoyed the Conference and the chance as a young lawyer to debate the issues with Council Members, which is not that often. With the passing of thinkers and doers like Michael Napier and David McIntosh, the end was inevitable: Fiona Woolf could call upon a City audience, but not perhaps her successors.One must also consider the audience. Sadly, there was almost always a minority from the "lunatic fringe" of the profession who rode well known hobbyhorses that had failed to get a showing at the AGM. The Conference was their opportunity to let off steam and I feel they are poorer for it as ultimately they made up part of the audience for the Conference in recent years, but the rest of us can be spared the complaints of an eccentric minority. Inevitably with the rise of other competing forums, most notably from Legal Week has dented the City audience. I suggest the Society consider aligning itself with what is one of Britain's fastest growing legal publications, and organisers of the British Legal Awards, although the shadow of the Gazette is likely to prevent this.

Posted by: Ben Rigby, Past Chairman, LYSG

31 Aug 2007 | 16:53

In relation to the above posting that Legal Week and The Law Society should host an event together...this and most other legal titles have spent plenty of time sending up the Law Society and having a good laugh at its mistakes. To stage a conference together would show quite a change of heart.

Posted by: RDT

03 Sep 2007 | 10:43