Writers to the Signet, an ancient society of solicitors in Scotland who formerly had the exclusive right to prepare all summonses and other writs pertaining to the supreme court of justice (see SIGNET). Under the 31 and 32 Vict. chap. 101 they have still the exclusive privilege of preparing crown writs, which include all charters, precepts, and writs from the sovereign or prince of Scotland.
The office of Keeper of the Signet was in 1817 conjoined with that of Lord Clerk Register. See LIBRARY, p. 607.—Writer is also a term vaguely applied in Scotland to a law practitioner or his clerk.