The speech delivered in Cardiff last October by the new Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, was one of the most sensational bombshells ever to be dropped on the solicitors' profession by a politician.

And it was no accident that Lord Irvine chose the Law Society's annual national solicitors' conference to announce the most far-reaching reforms to the legal aid and civil justice system in 50 years.

Few who were there failed to recognise that history was in the making and few will forget the Lord Chancellor's snub to the conference when he refused to face the audience and answer questions.The Law Society's annual conference was not always an event of such national political significance.

The first full national event, in Torquay in September 1950, was a more introspective affair.

Originally conceived as a way of bringing solicitors together, principally the leaders of local law societies and Council members, the conference soon became a highlight of the legal social calendar.For some 30 years, conferences were held in September or October, to coincide with the start of the legal year, in seaside and other resort towns across the country.

In the 1980s it became practice to hold the conference abroad every four years.

In 1983 it took place in Paris, in 1987 it was in Vienna and in 1991 Brussels.Perhaps the most traditional feature of the annual conference is the President's speech.

One of the best remembered in recent years was given by Martin Mears in Birmingham in 1995, in which he attracted media attention by attacking the Society's Council, setting the stage for the rest of his year in office.

Another memorable speech was that by Sir Arthur Hoole -- who died earlier this year (see Obituary, [1998] Gazette, 3 June, 25) -- in 1984 at Bournemouth, when the profession was under pressure following the removal of the solicitors' conveyancing monopoly.

Referring to Austin Mitchell MP, the monopoly's greatest critic, Sir Arthur raised howls of laughter when he said: 'It is not pleasant to be awakened by a kiss from Austin Mitchell.

It is natural that the first reaction was to recoil.

But now we must jump out of bed and greet the new day.'The preparation work that goes into organising and running the annual conference is considerable.

Council member Michael Long, who chaired the conference sub-committee in 1993, recalls the last minute anxieties he suffered once the conference, in Brighton, was under way.

First the inaugural speaker, barrister and then-Labour leader John Smith, cancelled.

Fortunately, he was replaced at short notice by Derry Irvine QC, now the Lord Chancellor who delivered the shock-waves four years on.

The second disaster happened when television presenter Nick Ross was rushed to hospital before he could chair a session entitled 'Burning issues'.

Lastly and bizarrely, Patricia Pannone, wife of the then-President Rodger Pannone was shot at by a man wielding an air pistol.

Still, 'in general the conference went very smoothly', recalls Mr Long.Notwithstanding that attendance figures remained high as the recession of the early 1990s began to bite, it was increasingly thought that the Society should seek better value for money for the national event and attempt to attract a greater number of younger practitioners.

In 1990, a survey was commissioned from the Society's research and policy planning unit to build a profile of the delegates at that year's conference in Glasgow.

The RPPU found that 62% of d elegates had already attended at least one national conference, the majority (75%) were men, and more than 50% had come from London.

It also found that 66% were aged older than 40 and just 9% younger than 30.In the spring of 1992, the Society undertook a consultation with the profession on the future of the national conference.

In July 1992 the Council agreed that beginning with the 1994 conference in London, the event should be held over two days instead of three and that the presidents and secretaries of local law societies' conferences should be subsumed into the national conference.

It was also decided that while holding conferences abroad should not be ruled out, in future their location should be easily accessible to members from all parts of England and Wales.

The long sought after aim of attracting more younger members of the profession appeared at last to have been met at Cardiff in 1997, where no fewer than 245 young solicitors (defined as aged 35 or younger) or trainees were among the total of 923 delegates.

The year before, this group made up just 88 of the total of 741 delegates.THE LAW SOCIETY'S SOLICITORS' ANNUAL CONFERENCE 1998This year's conference will be held at Bournemouth International Centre on 23 and 24 October.

It is accredited for 10 hours of continuing professional development and is aimed at all solicitors.Speakers include:.-- Stephen Orchard, chief executive of the Legal Aid Board-- Vanni Treeves, senior partner of Macfarlanes and chairman of the Channel 4 Corporation and of the London Business School-- Marcel Berlins, legal correspondent and broadcaster-- The Law Society PresidentSessions include:-- legal costs and charging-- conveyancing-- funding litigation-- alternative dispute resolution-- client care-- family law-- coping with changeFringe meetings will be held on:-- probate: the 1998 Budget-- pro bono: where now?-- making the most of your trainees-- employment: new rights and obligationsSocial events include:-- visits to local interest spots-- Young solicitors beach party-- Conference barn dance