Employment Law Essentials: a four-part webinar series
Course View More
Mastering Your Firm’s Finances: Think Like a CFO
Essential financial know-how for legal professionals in Ireland.
Presented by Mrs Smart Money, Kel Galavan, MSc QFA.
50
Online
1 CPD Hour: Professional Development and Solicitor Wellbeing (eLearning)
On-Demand Webinar
About this course
This course is designed for legal professionals running their own firm, practice, or business. It provides a clear understanding of business finance, key financial metrics, and strategies to improve profitability. Participants will learn how to effectively manage cash flow, track financial performance, engage with accountants, and make informed financial decisions that support their legal practice.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
✔ Confidently assess the financial health of your firm - no jargon, just practical insights.
✔ Understand the building blocks of sustainable cash flow and profitability in legal practice.
✔ Engage proactively with your accountant, asking the right questions at the right time.
✔ Identify financial bottlenecks and take action to unlock growth.
✔ Apply key financial metrics to make better, faster business decisions.
✔ Develop a habit of regular financial check-ins to stay on track and in control.
You don’t need a finance degree to build a profitable legal practice. Just consistent action, clear insights - and the right tools to guide you.
This webinar gives you both the mindset and the method. Your journey to thinking like a CFO starts now. Ready to take control?
Why choose this course
Because understanding your firm’s finances shouldn't feel overwhelming, just empowering.
Tailored for legal professionals in Ireland:
Get practical insights grounded in the realities of running a legal practice, with examples relevant to your areas of work.
Clear financial insights – no jargon:
Learn how to read, interpret, and act on your numbers without needing an accounting background.
Designed for immediate impact:
Walk away with tools and actions you can apply straight away to improve cash flow, profitability, and decision-making.
Smarter conversations with your accountant:
Ask better questions, get better answers, and turn your accountant into a strategic ally.
Course syllabus
Legal firms need CFO thinking
It’s essential for resilience, profitability, and sustainable growth, especially in a fast-changing market.
Clarity | Control | Confidence:
- Clarity over where your firm stands financially.
- Control over your future decisions.
- Confidence to grow your practice strategically.
Income
Where does your income come from:
- Which activities are driving most of your income?
- Break down typical revenue streams for your business – e.g. litigation, conveyancing, probate.
- Are there seasonal revenue shifts, e.g. fewer property transactions in winter months?
Your firms cashflow
Where are the revenue bottle necks:
- Delayed invoicing?
- Slow paying clients?
- Poor visibility of outgoings?
Identify where your revenue bottlenecks are and what are the areas above that are the source of the most frustration and stress in your revenue flow.
Know your numbers
Key metrics for legal practices, including:
- Gross profit margin.
- Net income.
- Days receivables outstanding (DRO).
- Cost per client acquisition (CPA).
Focus on what works
Determining profitability and understanding the 80/20 rule:
- Use the 80/20 rule to unlock smarter, more profitable growth.
- Identify and double down on what’s working.
- Let go of low-yield work.
Start with the end in mind
Don’t just grow. Grow with purpose, aligned to your long-term goals:
- Define success (more time? bigger team? exit plan?).
- Build a strategic financial plan.
- Invest in efficiency before expansion.
- Plan action steps and accountability.
Get more from your accountant
Rather than simply handing over the books, ask smarter questions, get better answers:
- How can I optimise my tax position?
- What financial metrics should I track monthly?
- What’s my cash runway?
- How can I improve liquidity?
- Are there any compliance or legal updates affecting me?
Your next steps
Keep the momentum going:
- Book your CFO Time: a monthly 15-minute review.
- Block 15 minutes each month to check in on your key numbers.
- Use this time to track profit, cash flow, and what’s working.
- Treat it like a board meeting with your future self.
Who should attend
Solicitors running or managing their own practice
Barristers seeking to better manage their financial performance
Partners and senior associates looking for strategic financial insight
Legal professionals involved in budgeting, planning, or decision-making
Meet the speaker – Kel Galavan MSc QFA
Mrs Smart Money
Money coach, author, and speaker empowering Irish people to achieve financial freedom. With 20+ years of investing experience and a background in science and finance, Kel blends mindset, systems, and...
Read Bio
