If employed by an attorney or law firm, what is required regarding the notary journal?

The requirement regarding the notary journal when employed by an attorney or law firm is that a journal is not necessarily mandatory for the notary if the attorney or firm maintains adequate records, such as copies of the notarized documents. While the Illinois Notary Public Act emphasizes that notaries should keep a journal of their activities, it also allows for flexibility in scenarios where the notary is part of a law office that tracks these transactions through their own record-keeping methods. This means that having an attorney or law firm manage the records can fulfill the obligation, as long as the records are comprehensive and accessible for any required verification or legal purposes.

Keeping a personal journal, while often recommended for individual notaries to maintain their own records and protect against potential disputes, may not be strictly necessary when those records are being managed diligently by the employing attorney or firm. Thus, the notary's responsibilities can be adjusted under the auspices of the firm’s procedural safeguards.