Conference organisers are always working on the next big event, and already the wheels are in motion to attract solicitors to Birmingham for the 2004 Law Society Annual Conference.

But for hard sells, none matches that necessary to exhort the world's lawyers to Auckland for next year's International Bar Association conference.

Some thought that the excellent turn-out for last month's bash in San Francisco could, perhaps, be explained in part by people already deciding that they don't fancy the prospect of the long haul to New Zealand.

In a tacit recognition of this, the marketing began in earnest in San Francisco.

Each delegate received a letter from the New Zealand prime minister extolling the virtues of visiting her lovely country, while a 2004 calendar in everyone's welcome pack stops at October, after which organisers cannot care less what you do with your time.

But most prized was the IBA Auckland key chain, decorated with a tiny cuddly sheep, setting the tone for what will no doubt be an orgy of hakas, rugby-related antics and so on next year.