The Faculty is similar to the Society of Writers to Her Majesty's Signet (WS Society), a professional association of solicitors which maintains the Signet Library in Edinburgh, however these bodies play no regulatory role for their members, only providing services, and should be distinguished from the Law Society of Scotland and Faculty of Advocates, which are the respective regulatory bodies for solicitors and advocates in Scotland.

A Royal Charter awarded by King George III on 6 June 1796 stated that "for centuries past the members of the Commissary Courts of Glasgow and of Hamilton and Campsie have been, and are now united into a Society called the Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow."

The Society is based at its Library on Nelson Mandela Place, off Buchanan Street in Glasgow's city centre.

[2] It moved in 1856 to its present location, a Venetian-style building by Charles Wilson, who also designed 22 Park Circus and Lews Castle on Stornoway.

It contains series of law reports, purchases copies of every legal text published and increasingly provides electronic resources to members.