Conference speakers cannot resist the temptation to resort to clichés. The International Bar Association's Auckland bash had only been about five minutes old when London-based barrister Claire Miskin kicked off one of the first sessions, on whether the law was a profession or a trade, with perhaps that oldest of chestnuts - a reference to Shakespeare's 'let's kill all the lawyers' line. But that just set the ball rolling.


Later that afternoon, speakers on the same theme attempted to outdo each other with references to a desire not to throw babies out with bath water. But one of the best examples was more a stereotype than a cliché. The President of the Mexican Bar Association, Emilio Gonzalez de Castilla Jr, informed delegates: 'The main goal of lawyers is to make money. Well, actually to make it for their wives - they need it more.'