Writers to the Signet
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The Society of Writers to Her Majesty’s Signet has a very long history and is the oldest legal society in the world. It is a private society of Scottish solicitors.
Originally, the Signet was the private seal of the early Scottish Kings, and the Writers to the Signet were those authorised to supervise its use and, later, to act as clerks to the Courts. The earliest recorded use of the Signet was in 1369, and Writers to the Signet were included as members of the College of Justice when it was established in 1532, but the Society did not take definite shape until 1594, when the King's Secretary, as Keeper of the Signet, granted Commissions to a Deputy Keeper and eighteen other writers.
The function of the Society has changed much since then, but every summons initiating an action in the Court of Session still "passes the Signet", meaning that it is stamped with the Royal seal. The present Signet was made by the Royal Mint in 1954. The role of Keeper of the Signet has since 1817 been combined with that of Lord Clerk Register.
The Society maintains the Signet Library, which forms part of the complex that includes Parliament House.
Members of the Society use the postnominal letters WS.
External link
- The Society of Writers to Her Majesty's Signet (http://www.signetlibrary.co.uk/)