In her own words: Jessie Blain

In the latest in our series of interviews with CILEX members, we spoke to Jessie Blain, real estate partner at Geldards, about building her career, the importance of her dad’s support and why client care is her top priority

I left school with some strong A-level grades but, rather than go straight to university, I was keen to gain employment while I decided what to do next. My dad, who has been a role model all my life, offered to help. He took a walk around Cardiff where we lived, looking at local businesses that might have an opening.

He passed me his shortlist and I wrote to all of them, including local law firm Blake Morgan. They got in touch about an office junior role, and that’s where I started my legal career, at 18 years old.

It wasn’t long before a partner in the property team saw my potential and took me aside, explaining the CILEX route to me and the possibility of studying whilst continuing the day job. I was already loving my work in commercial property and was keen to build a career in the law, so I jumped at the chance.

Within a year I had moved to national firm Geldards to take up a junior secretarial role. I continued my studies whilst working full-time. It was hard, working late and through my lunchbreaks so I could take time out on Fridays to study. Again, my dad was a huge support, picking me up from late-night classes, helping me revise for my exams, and later helping me prepare for interviews.

By 22, I had completed the four-year CILEX course, gaining distinctions in all my assignments. In those days, you couldn’t become a Fellow until you were 25, so I had to wait a little longer to qualify.

After eight years at Geldards, I moved to another Cardiff firm, Hugh James, where I worked for the next 11 years, advising high-net-worth clients, developers and public sector clients. During this time, I was seconded to Welsh Government twice, gaining valuable experience working for a public sector client, and was, without realising it at the time, building a good client following.

I did consider cross-qualifying as a solicitor during the early stages of my career but, given my passion for property law, I decided instead to do a part time LLM (Masters) course in Advanced Commercial Property Law at Northumbria University. I learnt so much I could put to good use in my work and went on to pass with distinction.

Building a following

In 2017, I was approached by London firm Gordon Dadds, later acquired by Ince & Co. They wanted me to work with their London office and help set up a new commercial property team in Cardiff. This gave me exposure to both London-based and international clients and saw me promoted a number of times before making partner in 2022.

I loved working in London and was part of the real estate team there until Ince & Co unfortunately closed at very short notice in 2023. I found myself in a situation where I needed to find a firm quickly, that would be right for me, my clients and my paralegal, Safa, who had been with me since she left university. She was, and still is, such an asset to my team, and it was very important to me that we stayed together. An opportunity came up to return to Geldards where I had trained, so we both joined.

“Client care is central to everything I do and is how I’ve managed to build such a loyal client base, many of whom I have known since my 20s” 

I now advise clients on all elements of their property transactions and manage a large team servicing a major London local authority trading company. We have been instructed to act on significant portfolio projects, including the acquisition of 135 properties, a deal worth £38m, and more recently an acquisition of 73 properties, worth £20m. These deals are part of a larger project to acquire a significant number of properties over the next few years. I also manage a portfolio of high-net-worth clients and am the client relationship partner for major clients across the firm.

Client care is central to everything I do and is how I’ve managed to build such a loyal client base, many of whom I have known since my 20s. It’s the people and the relationships that motivate me to come to work in the morning. Often in commercial property, lawyers tend to work on one big transaction for a client and then move on, but for me it’s about the long-term relationships and repeat instructions.

My clients come to me every time they need legal assistance, not just on property matters. That might include drafting a will, a matrimonial dispute or acquiring or selling a business. I pass that work to my team and cross-refer work to other departments. It’s important that my clients trust me and those I recommend.

Being different

My focus on building lasting relationships and delivering ongoing value for clients could be seen as a different approach to the more immediate chargeable hours mindset, but over time it has been very effective. I take pride in being the client-care partner for all my clients, winning work for the firm, and ensuring they are looked after. In the future, I see my career focusing even more on this area.

I’m used to being different – something my dad has always encouraged in me. Having taken the CILEX route into the law I’ve often had to explain myself in a way my solicitor colleagues didn’t need to. This changed once I reached associate level and over the years I have seen an increasing respect for Chartered Legal Executives.

I love to mentor and coach junior team members and we have CILEX trainees at the firm. My paralegal, Safa, of whom I am immensely proud, had been studying the SQE but has decided to switch to CILEX. For those looking to work full-time while studying, I think it’s a great option. It fits around work and client demands, and you get to specialise in whichever area you are passionate about. Your studies tie in with your day job, and those with law degrees don’t have to start from scratch; they can fast-track by joining part way through the CILEX Professional Qualification.

For me, studying with CILEX meant I had already found an area of law that I loved and I gained significant experience at a time when my contemporaries were only just starting out. In my view, it is a great alternative way into a successful legal career, and I very much hope I am testament to that.