Spotlight on - Jen Rayner

Jen Rayner, Senior Associate in Geldards’ Commercial Property team in Chelmsford, has overcome more than most on her journey to becoming a successful commercial property lawyer. In the middle of A-Levels, her family home burned to the ground, destroying all her revision notes! Her resilience and positive attitude have helped her to embrace life’s unexpected challenges.

We talk to Jen about her love of networking, and why she decided to take on a new challenge by joining Geldards’ newly established team in Chelmsford, Essex.

Why did you first consider a career in law?

My teacher suggested law would be a good fit for me. I had gained work experience through family friends working in the legal profession, so I chose subjects with that in mind. However, in the middle of studying for A-Levels, my family home burnt down. We lost everything, including my revision notes. Despite numerous forensic teams investigating the fire, they couldn’t with 100% certainty establish what started the blaze.

Although we lost the house and our belongings, we were just grateful nobody was hurt. For the next year, we camped out in the back garden while the house was rebuilt. My parents stayed in a very nice static caravan, while my brother and I lived in a rusty old caravan over a very cold winter, not that I hold that against them or anything! It was an interesting experience!

“In the middle of studying for A-Levels, my family home burnt down. We lost everything.”

My parents had their hands full sorting out insurance and liaising with planning officers about the rebuild. It was a stressful time. The house suffered extensive water damage and the family photos were destroyed – but I am not too sad that none of my baby photos exist! Despite the disruption, I sat my A-Levels and got a place studying Law at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. Throughout that time, my parents always kept their sense of humour, and that resonated with me. Even when life is absolute chaos, I try and see the funny side of things.

“Even when life is absolute chaos, I try and see the funny side of things.”

Your qualification journey was not plain sailing?

I enjoyed my law degree at UEA so much I didn’t want to leave, and stayed to complete a Master’s in International Commercial and Business Law. I loved meeting people from all over the world and made some really good friends. After achieving a Distinction for my Master’s, I decided to continue on to the LPC course. I commuted from Stowmarket to the University of Law in London for my LPC year and felt like I left with a lot of knowledge in my head!

Once again, we were thrown a bit of a curveball when my fiancé (now husband) was diagnosed with a heart valve problem. We were on holiday in Spain when the surgeon rang, insisting we fly home for an urgent heart operation. Luckily, I had finished studying so had time to help him recover. Thankfully, his operation was successful and he is now a fully-fledged member of the ‘Zipper Club’! It was a stressful time, but I learnt to be resilient and not much fazes me now.

“My husband was diagnosed with a heart issue. I learnt to be resilient and not much fazes me now.”

You had other jobs before your training contract?

I did plenty of work experience shadowing barristers and judges throughout school and university, mainly in the criminal court, which was eye-opening. Although I had started to apply for training contracts before university, I faced constant rejection for many years. When I left university, there was a recession and lots of law firms stopped their training programmes, which didn’t help. Once my husband was fighting fit again, I spotted an advert in the local paper (yes, in the paper!) for an unpaid internship at Sue Ryder, assisting their legal team with legacies.

It was a lot of fun and a fantastic experience. I remember one lady had gifted in her Will her ‘second-best hoover!’ Quite the dilemma! After a few weeks they offered me a paid job in their legal team as their Legacy Officer. Although I had self-funded my degrees and qualifications, it was absolutely worth taking the unpaid internship to work in the legal team of a national charity. I learned so much about office life and legal teams, which has been invaluable all through my career.

“One lady had gifted in her Will her ‘second-best hoover!’”

We hear you were a London 2012 Olympic Games Maker?

While working at Sue Ryder, I volunteered as a London 2012 Olympic Games Maker. It was a brilliant experience! I was part of the Rate Card Team, taking teams to their rooms in the Olympic Village and ensuring they had everything they had pre-ordered. Athletes would turn up at all hours, so we worked throughout the night, while juggling the day job. A highlight was watching the opening ceremony dress rehearsal, which was quite a show! I remember introducing myself to an athlete sitting alone on a bench, not realising it was world-renowned American basketball player LeBron James! I also met Usain Bolt; it was an otherworldly experience.

“The team often worked through the night as athletes would turn up at all hours, and I was juggling the day job too.”

How did you get your first paralegal position?

My first paralegal position came about because a lovely friend from the LPC course tipped me off that he was leaving his City banking paralegal position, and encouraged me to apply. I was living in rural Suffolk and a bit of a country girl. But dressed in my best power suit, determined to look the part, I went to London for an interview. I was offered the job on the spot. It was a great first experience of real working life in a law firm, commuting into London every day and absorbing as much as I possibly could from some incredible colleagues.

“I dressed in my best power suit, determined to look the part.”

During my time as a City Banking Paralegal, I was still applying for training contracts. Eventually, I was offered a training contract at a local high street firm near my home. I had a fantastic time during training, gaining lots of experience in new practice areas. I was pretty sure I would qualify into the Trusts and Estates team, as my career was heading in that direction. However, during training I had enjoyed a six-month seat with a very charismatic Commercial Property partner and learnt so much from him. I called him ‘The King’ as he had recently been made Managing Partner, which embarrassed him greatly! Very sadly, he was taken ill suddenly, and after just two weeks off work, he died from an aggressive form of cancer. Everyone at the firm was devastated.

As I was the last person to work alongside him, I was asked to assist with his workload. The experience required me to adapt quickly and learn on the job. I was thankful for the opportunity, and it taught me that I thrive when faced with new challenges and unfamiliar situations. I continued developing my Commercial Property practice at that firm after qualifying as a Solicitor. Over my career I have worked in firms in Ipswich and Marks Tey, before deciding to make the exciting move to Geldards in the new Chelmsford office.

“The Commercial Property partner died suddenly. Everyone at the firm was devastated.”

You work in the newly established Chelmsford office…tell us more.

I joined Geldards in July 2026 as a Commercial Property Senior Associate in the newly opened Chelmsford office in Essex. I had been with my previous firm for over five years but knew I would enjoy the challenge of helping to establish a brand new office. I have found everyone so friendly and welcoming. Regardless of seniority, people have been so approachable and keen to help me settle in.

Although it might sound like a well-worn phrase, the consistent theme throughout my career has been the satisfaction I get from helping others. For instance, sometimes managing a commercial property can cause a huge amount of stress for landlord clients. I really enjoy simplifying the process for them, taking ownership of the problem and putting their minds at ease. I also get a lot of satisfaction advising businesses taking on new office space or huge labs so they can expand and take on even bigger contracts. It’s hugely exciting for them and I can’t help but get swept up in their excitement too!

I also really enjoy delving into technical queries and taking the time to research options. I like asking, ‘Why do we do it that way? I think we should swim against the current and do something else.’ In commercial property you can really tailor things to each different client, and that keeps it interesting.

“I can’t help but get swept up in my client’s excitement too.”

One of the objectives for the team in Chelmsford is raising our profile in the local area. I enjoy networking, not just for the good food and drink on offer (honest!), but because you never know where a conversation might lead. Someone you meet may not need legal advice, but knows someone who does. Everyone has an interesting story to tell and I love meeting and listening to people who are passionate about what they do. I think it’s an important skill to have as a lawyer in any area.

“Everyone has an interesting story to tell and I love meeting people who are passionate about what they do.”

What do you do to relax outside of work?

We don’t really do relaxing in our house at the moment! We have a stream of builders digging holes in the garden and pouring cement as we are building a garage. We recently moved into a new home, which is set to be a rather long-term renovation project! Luckily, my husband is an aspiring builder, which massively helps. The wallpaper was a mass of bright yellow and pink woodchip, and there is a never-ending list of renovation jobs. Between that and looking after our lively five-year-old son, coming into the lovely new Chelmsford office can be a welcome escape for a while!

“We don’t really do relaxing in our house!”