In the next few months, David Cameron and George Osborne will be looking to recruit a new governor of the Bank of England to succeed Sir Mervyn King when he steps down in June 2013.

I trust that no banking lawyer is tempted to apply for the job.

Lawyers are keen to extol their knowledge of the markets their clients operate in - none more so than banking lawyers. So what were they advising their bank clients in the buildup to the worst financial crisis since the 1930s?

The banks are still in denial about the anger that is felt at their reckless behaviour. Yet lawyers, who should have known better, stood by and watched while they aided their bank clients to drive the banking system to breaking point.

Surely lawyers were uniquely placed to see what was going on and to call on their clients to stop and think? The ability to step back and view the bigger picture objectively is what lawyers are usually good at.

Lawyers are important because we are trusted by our clients to tell them sometimes unpalatable truths, so some of the anger felt about banks is being directed at their lawyers.

Therefore, I suggest we pass on this particular job application.

Christopher Digby-Bell, Senior general counsel, Palmer Capital, London W1