Legal Definitions - serviens narrator

Serviens narrator (pronounced sər-vee-enz nə-ray-tər) is a term used in English law to refer to a barrister of superior grade who has achieved the highest degree of the legal profession. Until 1846, they had the exclusive privilege of practicing in the Court of Common Pleas.

Every judge of the common-law courts was required to be a serjeant-at-law until the Judicature Act of 1873. The rank was gradually superseded by that of Queen's Counsel. The term is often shortened to serjeant and is also known as serjeant at the law, serjeant of the law, or serjeant of the coif.

For example, a barrister who has achieved the highest degree of the legal profession and has the exclusive privilege of practicing in the Court of Common Pleas is a serviens narrator.

Serjeants' Inn was a building on Chancery Lane, London, that housed the Order of Serjeants-at-Law. The building was sold and demolished in 1877.

For example, Serjeants' Inn was a building that housed the Order of Serjeants-at-Law until it was sold and demolished in 1877.