The Burn Bright Impact - In Their Words
Supporting junior lawyers to thrive - and helping firms retain, develop and elevate their talent
From individuals to organisations, here’s what working together looks like in practice.
A game-changer for my career, confidence and wellbeing
“The programme and membership transformed how I work and live – building lasting habits, increasing confidence, and proving it’s possible to succeed in law without sacrificing wellbeing.”
Scott, Wills & Probate Lawyer
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The Burn Bright Membership has been a game-changer in both my professional and personal life! It has taught me how to prioritise my wellbeing and more importantly, how to keep it a priority. The membership provides that much-needed accountability so that when I realise I am moving back to constantly being switched on and not making any time for myself, I can stop and revert to the new way of living and working as a result of completing the Burn Bright Programme and being part of the Membership.
As a result of the Programme and the Membership, I now realise that despite the day-to-day challenges of being a lawyer and the constant demands, it is possible to take my wellbeing and my development seriously and make it my top priority. I have built daily habits to help with my wellbeing, which now means I can perform at my best and be the best version of myself for my clients, my loved ones, and my family. Not only that, but I am also doing things in my professional life and career that I would never have believed were possible. All because of working with Donna and being part of the Burn Bright Membership.
It has given me a belief in myself that I can enjoy a career in law, whilst taking care of me and not always putting others first. My confidence has massively increased. I have a clear vision of what I would like to achieve in my career and my energy levels have never been higher. Being part of this community of like minded lawyers is a constant reminder and encouragement that I can enjoy a life outside of the law as well as being part of an amazing profession and not needing to sacrifice my wellbeing in the process.
Finding myself again - with confidence and boundaries
“Through a structured programme and powerful coaching, I’ve reconnected with myself and gained the confidence to set boundaries and communicate what I need.”
Chloe, Associate Solicitor
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I just felt like I clicked with Donna from the start. The structure of the programme was excellent to build the foundations and learn what needed to be done and then put it into action. The coaching sessions then gave me the space to explore what I needed to… I am finding myself again, or possibly even for the first time and it’s thanks to Donna. I am more confident to put boundaries in place and let people know what I need at work and at home.
Worth every penny - I feel like the best version of myself
“What started as uncertainty became a deeply transformative experience – helping me prioritise myself, build sustainable habits, and feel like the best version of who I am.”
Aneela, Criminal Justice Professional
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The programme was worth every penny. It has helped me take regular breaks in my life to put myself first and think about what makes me happy. The BBAP exceeded my expectations. I enrolled onto the programme as a recommendation from my friend and I wasn’t entirely sure or convinced how useful it would be for me. I have however walked away feeling like the best version of myself! I found every single principle useful and interesting as they seemed to perfectly fit into whatever I was experiencing at the time. If I had to pick one that I often revisit, it would be the balance and withdrawals workshop, as it really helps me take stock of how I am feeling and what I can do to burn bright.
From sceptical to seeing real change
“What began as uncertainty quickly became real, everyday change – with noticeable shifts in mindset, choices, and confidence.”
Bongai, Solicitor in Local Government
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Absolutely worthwhile. Initially I was skeptical as to whether learning the Burn Bright Principles would make a positive change. However midway i began to see the impact it was having on my day to day life and l started to recognise a shift in my daily choices. My expectations were met over and above. In sessions l felt heard, concepts were explained clearly and the content was presented with excellence! I am really grateful to Donna for her time and effort to deliver this course with excellence! Donna is radiant, positive and absolutely inspiring ! I can only hope that other people get the opportunity I had to learn from her!
Clarity, confidence and focus - exactly when I needed it
“Donna’s coaching helped me cut through complexity, build confidence, and focus my time and energy – enabling me to step into new responsibilities with clarity and direction.”
Kathryn, Chartered Patent Attorney
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I really enjoyed working with Donna, and found the coaching sessions a game-changer for my personal and professional development. She has this amazing ability to shine a light into the dark hidden corners of my brain and get to the heart of an issue, then gently guide me to finding my own solution. I had recently taken on more responsibility at work, and felt like I needed some support to help me make the most of this new opportunity. I wasn’t sure what to expect from coaching, having never done it before. In a series of sessions we covered mindset, self-confidence, motivation, time management, feedback, mindfulness, goal-setting, focus, prioritising, and a range of other topics with tools and techniques. As a result I feel more confident and better able to focus my time and attention on defining and achieving my goals, and more prepared to handle whatever life throws at me.
Clarity that led to one of the biggest decisions of my career
“The coaching helped me gain clarity, set meaningful goals, and confidently make a major career decision – with results I couldn’t be happier with.”
Tom, Trainee Solicitor
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I just wanted to say a big thank you for all your help over the past few months; some of the principles and exercises we have covered and gone through have been really valuable for me and have ultimately contributed to helping me make arguably the biggest decision of my career so far!
I was just looking back through the notes I made from the last session and the goal that I set myself for before Christmas and I think 90% of it was spot on and I think I’ve achieved it to some degree, the end result is the only thing that has slightly changed since that session in November but its changed in a way that I couldn’t be happier with.
TRUSTED BY LAW FIRMS & LEGAL LEADERS
A tailored programme that delivered real results
“After generic training fell short, Donna created a tailored programme that truly supported our junior lawyers – with exceptional feedback and meaningful results.”
Lynn, HR Manager – Gardner Leader
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Following COVID, when the majority of training in education was remote, our junior recruits experienced enhanced anxiety in respect of collaborative working, belief in their ability and receiving constructive feedback in their development. We therefore recognised the need to offer increased support in their general resilience. We ran a few sessions with different providers, but found that the content, and therefore results, were too general and only offered light-touch benefits.
After being introduced to Odonnata, Donna was very open to having several meetings to discuss our objectives and subsequently propose programme options to specifically meet our needs and ensure results were positive. The Burn Bright programme met all of our requirements with Donna spending time with all the participants individually initially to ensure they felt comfortable with her before group sessions were introduced. Feedback from the participants has been exceptional:
– Donna was a very positive and passionate trainer, who clearly practices what she preaches. The programme was incredibly rewarding.
– Donna’s delivery is just right – she is easy to listen to and keeps the energy and pace just right. She involves people in as little or as much as they feel comfortable with.
– There is the right mix of friendly conversation and deeper reflection.
A trusted partner - delivering real value again and again
“Highly engaging and thought-provoking masterclasses that delivered real value – leading to repeat bookings and ongoing support for our trainees and members.”
Michelle, Head of Operations – Nottinghamshire Law Society
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We began working with Donna Smith last year, offering 3 Burn Bright Masterclasses to our membership. The first masterclass was open for all to attend and we had approximately 25 attend, all of which enjoyed the masterclass and benefited from the advice given. The second and third masterclasses were especially for our PSC trainees and to help them manage their workload capacities, time management and giving them the strength to say ‘no’ is a good word and can be used if you are undertaking too much. We have three further masterclasses booked in October this year, which we will offer out to our trainees and junior lawyers to attend as well as our membership.
Donna’s presentations are thought provoking, she certainly makes you think about what is important in your work/life balance and how you can take better control, preventing a mental and physical burn out!
We thoroughly recommend Donna Smith and look forward to working with her on other projects in the future.
Exactly what our members needed - at the right time!
“A practical and impactful masterclass that resonated deeply with our members – providing clear guidance during a challenging transition and leaving lasting value.”
Roisin, Bristol Junior Lawyers Division
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I booked Donna to deliver her “Burn Bright Masterclass” to Bristol Junior Lawyers Division (BJLD) in my capacity as vice-chair of the BJLD committee. Donna and I had connected on LinkedIn and discussed how BJLD’s membership had been working from home for almost a year now, facing a multitude of new challenges in our work and home lives. It was immediately apparent that Donna could really help our membership and we booked her for our first event of 2021. Donna’s simple but effective method struck a chord with our membership, each of whom took away a different focus point for the coming weeks and months. On behalf of BJLD, I would highly recommend Donna’s masterclass to anyone who has transitioned into a new working environment and wants some guidance on how to “burn bright and not out.” Thanks Donna, we would love to work with you again.
Supporting junior lawyers is as important as legal training
“A clear endorsement of the importance of wellbeing and resilience – recognising Burn Bright as a valuable investment in developing future legal talent.”
Derek, Managing Partner – Gardner Leader
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We attach a lot of importance to bringing through young talent and giving them the best opportunity to succeed in their chosen discipline. I think there is a lot more pressure on trainee solicitors now than there was when I was at the same stage of my career and so anything we can do to help them deal with that is just as important as developing their legal skills. Very grateful to Donna Smith for the work that she has been doing with them, and to our trainees for engaging in it.