Job vacancy: Lawyer, structured products desk - salary 80,000

Jonathan Beall, a consultant at the recrujtment firm Shepherd Little, says lawyers rarely earn a bonus of more than 100%, as they tend to remain part of the legal department.

This can be galling when the people they work alongside every day can be earning three times as much, or more.

The pay gap can make it hard to recruit experienced lawyers for front-office positions, Beall says. 'After doing it for a few years many want to become structurers instead, where they can make use of their legal knowledge and at the same time earn a banker's bonus.'

Shepherd Little has advertised for a derivatives lawyer to work alongside a 50-strong pan-European structured products team in London. Applicants should have three years similar experience at a bank or magic circle law firm.

The role will support origination teams in mutual funds and funds of funds, in such areas as drafting product agreements and negotiating terms of business. It is at vice-president level and the salary is up to 80,000.

There is a growing demand for such lawyers to cope with the growth of derivatives in both volume and sophistication, says Beall. But enticing them to switch jobs can be tough, even if they want to remain lawyers.

'They tend to be quite shy about moving. They're very analytical about why they should do it. Bankers move jobs more often,' he says.

At around three years experience many are particularly keen to stay where they are, to see if they can make partner at a law firm or gain promotion at a bank.

The job advert calls for a strong personality - 'the same as front-office bank staff as you have to deal with similar pressures,' says Beall. Fluency in Spanish, Italian or German is desirable.

Job Vacancy looks at advertisements from both eFinancialCareers.com and other sources.