A new law firm has become one of the first tenants of a town’s former public library.

Sahota Newcomb Scott has launched an office in The Old Library, the former public library in St Faith’s Street, Maidstone, which has been transformed into a business centre.

The company has been set up by litigation lawyers Jay Sahota, John Newcomb and Gareth Scott, each of whom has experience with top-flight London practices but decided to set up on their own near their Kent homes.

Mr Newcomb said: “Maidstone is the centre of the county, a big business and council hub.

“It was the sensible place to come to. The Old Library is ideal for us because it’s so close to the town centre and convenient for clients.”

The old library was sold by Kent County Council last year for £395,000.

It had been empty since closing in April 2012, when the books were transferred to the Kent History and Library Centre, in James Whatman Way.

Squatters briefly moved in a year later and found that running water and electricity was still available.

Now it has been turned into a business centre, with Sahota Newcomb Scott aiming to offer a “one-stop shop” for clients.

Mr Scott said: “We want people to use us as a first point of contact rather than see any solicitor as a last resort. We want our clients to know us personally and trust us to do a good job.”

The firm has been set up with five key aims – transparent pricing, value for money, minimal baffling jargon, excellent service, and the best outcomes.

Managing partner Mr Sahota said: “In the past, we felt stifled in terms of the type of work we wanted to do, the clients we wanted to work for, and the way we wanted to market our service.

“We want to provide a different type of service. Clients are rightly more demanding, and expect to be able to contact their solicitor when it suits them. We are happy to do that.”