Scrivener Notaries

There are two classes of notaries practising in England. These are:

1. Scrivener notaries
2. General notaries

Scrivener notaries are members of a City of London Livery company, or Guild, called The Scriveners' Company, which plays an active part in City life. As the body in charge of the training and admission of Scrivener notaries, it remains today one of the few Livery Companies having direct control over the profession of its members, a control which it has maintained at least since 1373. The membership of the Company includes not only notaries but also members of several other professions. Scrivener Notaries have their own separate governing and professional bodies and are thus independent of the Law Society of England and Wales, which regulates and represents solicitors, and the Bar Council of England and Wales, which exercises similar powers in respect of barristers.

Scrivener notaries generally practise exclusively as notaries and, by virtue of their qualification and training, are required to have a knowledge of foreign law and foreign languages as well as a knowledge of English law.

General notaries generally practise as solicitors and only occasionally act as notaries. A knowledge of foreign law and languages does not form part of the qualification.

The distinction between Scrivener notaries and General notaries has arisen for historical reasons. London being the main centre for international legal and commercial activity, a specialised more highly trained full-time body of notaries has grown up there. On the other hand, out of London, the demand for notaries has been sporadic, localised and frequently related to a particular industry or community.

As international activity is conducted ever more widely throughout the country, we envisage a growing demand for more highly qualified notaries, and a consequential joining together of the two branches of the profession.