Kesar & Co Solicitors
Overview
Kesar & Co Solicitors is a specialist legal aid practice based in South‑East London (Bromley) focused on public law, prison law, immigration and claims against public authorities. The firm operates a registered pro‑bono charity (Intervene Project) that provides free representation to prisoners and runs a volunteer route which has fed trainees and qualified solicitors into the firm. Kesar & Co combines casework funded by legal aid with privately funded claims and strategic public law litigation (judicial review and Parole Board challenges). The firm is Lexcel accredited, holds Silver Investors in People status and stresses hands‑on training and commitment to human rights and vulnerable clients.
- Headquarters: Bromley, 27 London Road
- Lawyers: 36 (staff listing on site)
- Trainees: 3-5 trainees at any given time
- Offices: 1
Values & Culture
Practice Areas
- Public Law
- Criminal Law
- Immigration
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
- Employment
- Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
- Professional Negligence
- Regulatory & Compliance
Geographic Focus: Primary base in South‑East London/Bromley with casework and litigation across England and Wales (regular prison work and Parole Board/public law challenges); the firm accepts cases nationally where Legal Aid or public interest grounds apply.
Training Contract
The typical development route is via recruitment as a paralegal/caseworker (paralegals work for six months before appraisal). Paralegals who demonstrate satisfactory performance, billing ability and meeting of targets after c.12 months may be offered a training contract. Selection includes a written test (multiple choice and a drafting exercise) followed by a short interview. The firm states it normally has three to five trainees at any one time.
- Starting Salary: £24,500 (starting salary for entry level fee earners; paralegals are listed at £24,500 for first year)
- Trainee Intake: 3-5 trainees at any given time
Seat Options
- Public Law
- Criminal Law
- Immigration
- Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
- Employment
- Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Sponsorship
Solicitor Apprenticeship training is delivered via the University of Law apprenticeship route (training costs are shared between employer and public funds and are free for apprentices). Apprentices are remunerated (see apprenticeship wage details). The firm pays practising certificate fees for staff.
Mentorship
Trainees, paralegals and volunteers receive supervision and guidance from experienced solicitors; paralegals are appraised after a six‑month probation and confirmed in post by their supervisor where performance is satisfactory. The firm’s charity (Intervene Project) provides supervised practical experience on real cases.
Programmes & Schemes
One or two week school work experience placements covering general administration, with opportunities to sit in client interviews, attend hearings and (if over 18) visit clients in prison. Under‑18s must provide written parental/guardian consent due to exposure to sensitive material. Applications by email to recruitment@kesarco.co.uk.
- Duration: 1-2 weeks
Volunteer placement with the Intervene Project (the firm's registered pro‑bono charity). Volunteers work on real cases under supervision; some former volunteers have progressed to training contracts and qualified solicitor roles. Volunteers are expected to commit at least one day per week for a minimum of three months. Contact: intervene@interveneproject.org.
- Duration: Minimum 3 months (volunteer commitment: at least once a week)
Route combining paid work and study (University of Law apprenticeship programme) over up to six years. Apprentices undertake substantive legal work across criminal appeals, prison law, discrimination and public/private law, learn Legal Aid eligibility assessment and have opportunities to visit prisons and appear before the Parole Board. The firm states apprentices will not be limited to administrative duties and will be integrated into live legal work.
- Duration: Up to 6 years
- Salary: If aged 19 or under at start: £19,240 for first 12 months; if over 19: national minimum wage in accordance with age. After first annual appraisal apprentices may be eligible for a performance‑based/bi
- Deadline: TBC
Notable Matters
High Court judicial review in which Kesar & Co successfully represented Mr Murphy in a challenge to the Parole Board’s failure to direct his case to an oral hearing; the court held fairness required an oral hearing and quashed the Parole Board’s paper decision, directing a fresh oral hearing.
Public Law
Kesar & Co acted for Mr Carter in a high‑profile legal challenge concerning police powers and alleged brutality; the matter engages statutory interpretation of police powers and reached appellate consideration in 2025.
Public Law
Kesar & Co prepared an application for Judicial Review challenging repeated Legal Aid Agency refusals to fund meritorious legal action in respect of treatment in custody for a high‑profile detained client, testing the LAA’s funding decisions in a case of national sensitivity.
Public Law
Acting for a group of prisoners concerned about exposure to radioactive radon at HMP Dartmoor following client instructions and Freedom of Information requests; the matter potentially involves hundreds or thousands of affected individuals and raises public health and institutional liability issues.
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Damages claim settled for £22,000 for a foreign national unlawfully detained by the Home Office on multiple occasions; example of the firm's immigration/detention compensation work.
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Successful unlawful detention claim for a vulnerable client detained for approximately 1000 days; settled with damages of £70,000 and demonstrates the firm's work on complex, high‑value detention claims.
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
What Kesar & Co Solicitors Looks For
Key Competencies
- Genuine and lasting interest in the rule of law, human rights and protection of the vulnerable
- Motivation for legal aid/public interest work over commercial career
- Ability to write succinctly and in a structured way
- Capacity to meet billing targets and work to performance measures
- Resilience and commitment to challenging caseloads
- Client‑facing skills for vulnerable and detained clients
Evidence Signals
- Paralegal/caseworker experience in legal aid, prison law or public law
- Volunteering with Intervene Project or other pro‑bono clinics
- Examples of drafting and written submissions (to demonstrate ability to write succinctly and structured)
- Practical experience of client interviews, hearings or prison visits
- Experience meeting billing or productivity targets
Benefits & Wellbeing
- Starting salary for entry level fee earners: £24,500
- Paralegal salary: £24,500 for first year (bonus available second year)
- Prison Law Caseworker salary advertised: £30,000
- Employment Law Caseworker salary advertised: £35,000 plus bonus
- 25 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays
- 14 days paid study leave
- 5 days paid sick leave
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme for staff and family members
- Practising certificate fees paid
- Training contract or Solicitor Apprenticeship opportunities
- Remuneration models include fixed salary reviewed every 6 months and a fee‑sharing arrangement linked to billing
Wellbeing
Access to an Employee Assistance Programme (available to staff and family members); social responsibility commitments to reduce workplace stress and support staff wellbeing.
Awards & Recognition
- Silver Investors in People (firm statement)
- Lexcel accreditation since 2012
- LawCareers.net Training and Recruitment Awards (2020)
- Intervene Project: finalist, Advising London Awards (recognized in “Best Use of Evidence”) (2025)
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Kesar & Co Solicitors support and promote the Diversity and Inclusion Charter of the Law Society. Due to the sensitive nature of the data regarding our company’s diversity, we have chosen not to publish such information on our website but will provide an anonymised version of the report on request (contact: contact@kesarco.co.uk).
- Diversity and Inclusion Charter of the Law Society
- Intervene Project (pro bono legal charity providing representation to prisoners and volunteer training opportunities)
Pro Bono
Intervene Project (registered 5 August 2013) is the firm's dedicated pro‑bono charity; it relies exclusively on donations and volunteers, has helped hundreds of prisoners across a range of civil and public law matters, and expects volunteers to commit at least one day per week for a minimum period of three months. Former volunteers have progressed into paid roles and training contracts at Kesar & Co.
Innovation
Quick Application Angles
- Demonstrate commitment to legal aid and prisoners’ rights — reference volunteering or pro‑bono experience (Intervene Project is central to the firm’s pipeline).
- Prepare concise written work: the recruitment process includes a drafting exercise and multiple‑choice test, so submit a succinct, well‑structured writing sample and be ready to draft under time constraints.
- Reference specific recent litigation the firm has run (e.g. the Parole Board judicial review R(Dich & Murphy) [2023] and the HMP Dartmoor radon group claim) to show commercial awareness of the firm’s public law and prison litigation focus.
- If applying via the paralegal route, emphasise your ability to meet billing/target objectives and give concrete examples of productivity or case management.
- For apprenticeship or trainee applications, highlight experience or interest in working with vulnerable populations and any prison/Parole Board exposure — the firm values hands‑on client experience over purely academic credentials.
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