De Scherff was born in Frankfurt to F. H. W. von Scherff-Arnoldi, who was minister plenipotentiary of the King-Grand Duke to the German Federal Diet.
For six years he was avocat géneral, and later became president of the superior court, at the age of 34.
From 24 June 1856 to 11 November 1858 he was Administrateur général (Minister) for Public Works and Railways in the Simons Ministry.
[2] When the walls of the fortress of Luxembourg were demolished in the 1870s and 1880s, Paul de Scherff was working in the ministry of public works, where he dealt with the building of the municipal parks.
He married Marie Pescatore on 14 September 1842,[1] daughter of Constantin Jos.