# The Society of Writers to His Majesty's Signet

## Details

- **Country:** Scotland
- **Charity number:** SC050987
- **Known as:** The WS Society, The Signet Library
- **Status:** Active
- **Legal form:** Other
- **Registered:** May 20, 2021
- **Register:** https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC050987


## Contact

- **Address:** The Signet Library, Parliament Square, Edinburgh
- **Postcode:** EH1 1RF
- **Website:** www.wssociety.co.uk



## Activities

**Activities:** 'It carries out activities or services itself'

**Purposes:** 'the advancement of education','the advancement of citizenship or community development','the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science'

**What the charity does:** The WS Society pursues its charitable purposes by: i) Delivering a legal education programme of continuing professional education (CPD). ii) The provision of law library resources and research support for the legal profession. iii) Providing a summer legal scholars programme open to students studying Scots law. iv) Providing access and support for academics and researchers to consult the Society’s historical collections. v) Cataloguing, conservation, curation, display, and selective digitisation of the Society’s historical library collections, incorporating volunteer and work experience opportunities. vi) Delivering a series of exhibitions and events accessible to the public on a range of legal, cultural, and historical subjects. vii) Maintaining the fabric and operational facilities of the Signet Library as a historic building.

**Beneficiaries:** 'No specific group, or for the benefit of the community'

**Objectives:** Education and professionalism  8.1  To promote the advancement and dissemination of knowledge and education in law, theoretical and practical, for public benefit both within and beyond the legal profession, and in particular to provide public forums for discussion of and information exchange on the law and legal practice.   8.2  To promote best practice in the administration of law for the public benefit in Scotland and elsewhere, in particular by the provision of library and research services to facilitate access by the public to proficient and independent legal advice and by the maintenance in the public interest of high standards of expertise and professional conduct among persons admitted to the Society.  Heritage  8.3  To advance the arts, heritage and culture by the preservation, repair, maintenance, conservation, renewal, improvement, promotion and facilitation of public access to the heritage and heritage assets comprised in the Signet Library and its heritable and moveable contents, including without limitation interior structures and bookcases, books, maps, historic records, manuscripts, muniments and papers, paintings, prints and pictures, sculptures, silverware, objets d’art, furniture and furnishings.  Civic engagement  8.4  To promote equality and diversity in society, and to advance citizenship and community development, including promotion of civic responsibility, volunteering, the voluntary sector and the efficiency or effectiveness of charities.





## Geography

- **Main operating location:** City of Edinburgh
- **Geographical spread:** Scotland and other parts of the UK



## Finances

| Period end | Income | Expenditure | Assets | Employees | Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 31, 2025 | £0 | £0 |  -  | 11 |  |
| Dec. 31, 2024 | £1032471 | £1016275 |  -  | 11 | [Markdown](/sc/SC050987/files/2024-12-31-accounts.md) (1.6 MB) |
| Dec. 31, 2023 | £937142 | £1014131 |  -  | 8 |  |
| Dec. 31, 2022 | £802621 | £894052 |  -  | 9 |  |
| Dec. 31, 2021 | £2409158 | £434000 |  -  | 8 |  |






## Nearby

- [The Trustees of the Craigcrook Mortification](/sc/SC001648.md) (0.0 mi)
- [Watt Memorial Trust](/sc/SC016856.md) (0.0 mi)
- [John Watson's Trust](/sc/SC014004.md) (0.0 mi)
- [Faculty Of Advocates - Faculty Funds](/sc/SC010773.md) (0.0 mi)
- [John Murdoch's Trust](/sc/SC004031.md) (0.0 mi)