Laurie Robinson Haden | Winter 2026
Financial confidence is one of the most underrated leadership skills for legal professionals—and one of the most powerful.
You do not need to be a CFO to be financially fluent. But you do need to understand how your decisions affect revenue, cost, margin, and risk. Without that understanding, even the strongest legal advice can miss the mark.
Financially confident leaders:
- Understand budgets, forecasts, and financial tradeoffs
- Recognize how legal risk translates into financial exposure
- Align legal strategies with business priorities
- Speak the language of executives and boards
Too often, lawyers underestimate the credibility gained by asking smart financial questions or challenging assumptions grounded in numbers. Financial confidence signals readiness for broader leadership roles and builds trust with senior decision-makers.
This confidence also improves internal advocacy. When you can explain why a legal investment protects long-term value—or why a shortcut creates downstream costs—you elevate the conversation.
Leadership today demands more than technical expertise. It requires the ability to connect law, finance, and strategy.
When legal leaders develop financial confidence, they don’t just support the business—they help lead it.