Is it a birthday? An anniversary? Maybe a little of both! Cornerstone Legal officially launched on July 11, 2021 shortly after founder Katrina Hofstetter was sworn into the State Bar of Michigan. And she hasn’t looked back since.
With a deep background in legal administration, a strong entrepreneurial vision, and a heart for making estate planning accessible to everyone, Katrina set out to build something different. Something mobile. Something personal. Something deeply rooted in the Greater Lansing community.
In this special feature, we’re catching up with Katrina about the “why” behind Cornerstone Legal, how being a mom shapes her mission, and what really sets her practice apart from the rest. From creative marketing to in-home visits and podcast episodes.
Cornerstone Legal is rewriting the playbook and making legal services feel a lot more human along the way.
What inspired you to start Cornerstone Legal?
Quite a lot actually! I spent almost 14 years working as a legal assistant/firm administrator for another solo attorney who focused their practice primarily on estate planning. I had the opportunity to be integrally involved in many of the design and developmental areas of the firm.
I grew to love the idea of being able to make ALL the decisions about my own firm. I wanted full creative control to market and advertise my services in a very unique way. I also felt very strongly that I wanted to structure the fees for my services in a way that made me accessible to people of all socioeconomic classes.
What sets your practice apart from other legal services in the Greater Lansing area?
One thing that I’ve noticed about my estate planning services, as compared to others available in the area, is the overall quality and complexity of my documents and supplemental resources. Estate Planning is an investment and the product and services should reflect that. I feel strongly that estate planning legal documents should be thorough and robust so that they avoid the conflicts and court interventions that most people are trying to avoid.
Another thing that sets Cornerstone Legal apart from other legal services is our accessibility. We offer both virtual and in-person consultations, and most often travel to our clients to meet with them in the comfort and privacy of their home.
Finally, we pride ourselves on our ongoing client relationships and strong communication. We maintain relationships with our clients in a variety of ways, including monthly newsletters, holiday communications, educational events, an annual summer social, and a strong social media presence. Our goal is to ensure that our clients stay up-to-date on legal changes that impact them and provide them with opportunities to to connect and engage with meaningful and relatable content.
How has being a mom influenced how you run your business?
One of the biggest influences has been the image that I project to my boys. I want them to know that anything is possible if they have a dream and put in the effort. I also want them to see that family is important and boundaries are crucial for small businesses – especially small businesses that operate from home. I’m constantly considering the image that I project to the boys and how to take advantage of teachable moments.
What services do you most often provide to local families and small businesses?
Our most commonly provided service is estate planning, including for business owners. Estate Planning can include just simple Powers of Attorney, or more comprehensive documents, like Wills and Trusts. When we work with families that own small businesses, we also commonly provide Operating Agreements for their business entity. This is very often an overlooked legal document that is crucial to have for estate planning and business succession plan purposes.
We recently Googled “Cornerstone Legal” and the word “mobile” was used to describe your services. Tell us about the mobile side of your practice and how did that come to be?
Since I established the firm on the tail end of Covid, I didn’t want to get myself into a lease in a physical space without knowing if I would be successful in my endeavors. I also knew that so many people had become accustomed to meeting virtually for many different types of interactions, including with their doctors.
So I took a leap of faith and advertised my firm as essentially being a traveling business. Kind of like the ole-timey doctors who would make house calls with their big black medical bags. And honestly, most clients opt for me to come to their home to meet instead of meeting virtually. This model has been wildly successful!
What has been one of the most rewarding moments since opening your doors?
Two and a half years ago I had grown the firm beyond my singular capabilities and I was able to bring on a full-time staff member – my husband, Ryan. He left the upper management world after 20+ years and has been helping me run the firm ever since!
What’s something most people don’t realize or understand about estate planning or small business legal work?
On the estate planning side, the most commonly misunderstood thing is that Wills don’t avoid probate. I often hear people comment about how they have an “Executor” or are named as an “Executor” for a family member. This is an antiquated term – we use “Personal Representative” now. But regardless, the power and authority of an Executor or Personal Representative doesn’t come from just a Will.
A Will has to be accepted/approved by probate court before the Executor or Personal Representative can act. So if someone is trying to completely avoid probate, having a Will is not the way to go.
On the small business side, the most commonly misunderstood thing is that even small businesses (i.e. one owner or a simple partnership) need a foundational and organizational legal document. This is typically an Operating Agreement. This document provides for the management of the business, and then the succession of ownership when the owner or a partner passes away.
As a female founder, what has surprised you most about running your own business?
The amazingly strong and supportive community of female entrepreneurs in the Greater Lansing area. I’ve established and grown some of the strongest and most valuable relationships with other female business owners, and I attribute much of my growth and success to their support, encouragement, and cheerleading.
Has being a woman influenced how you approach leadership or connect with clients? Absolutely! I have spent a great deal of time working with my advertising and media manager (Amy Zander from Zeedia Media) to develop a very strong image that is directly influenced by me being a female business owner, wife, and mother. I dedicate time to networking in women’s groups, and focus a lot of my advertising and support for other small businesses with women-owned or women-run businesses (like GLAM!). [😊💚thank you, Katrina] I also feel that as a mom, I can connect with clients in unique ways that help ease some of the difficulties of estate planning (like choosing a guardian for minor children).
How do you support other female business owners?
I try to regularly share their content to spread awareness and help them grow. I also prioritize using female-owned businesses for my personal and business needs, including looking for opportunities to barter.
How do you balance the demands of owning a business with family life?
Flexibility and grace.
There have been long nights, and working on the weekends (that’s where the grace comes in!). But there have also been afternoons off for school activities, or extended workday breaks to sneak in quality time with my boys. Every day is different. But this is the beauty of owning my own business!
What advice do you have for other moms considering starting a business?
Have a plan – an actual business plan. Map out your budget down to the minute detail. And surround yourself with other small business owners who have waded through this already. Ask all the questions. In the end, there are no guarantees and you truly have to take a leap of faith.
You’ve been featured on a number of podcasts and you have your own. Why are podcasts an important part of your business outreach?
There are really two reasons why I’ve been a guest on podcasts and have hosted my own (with a new one coming soon!).
First, providing free educational content to the community is one of the pillars of Cornerstone Legal. I believe it’s important to give back and this is one way that I do that. Second, I love connecting with people.
Podcasts are an opportunity for people to get to know me and see how I interact with others. I truly want to be relatable and somewhat break some stigmas associated with attorneys.
How have podcasts helped shape or grow Cornerstone Legal?
My first podcast, “517 Follow Friday”, which can be found on my YouTube page, really helped me to connect with and grow relationships with other small business owners in the Greater Lansing area. The benefits of supporting small businesses and having these amazing relationships are endless.
What do you love most about working with clients in the Greater Lansing area?
The community and culture are strong in the Greater Lansing area. I really love the diversity of clients that I get to work with.
And a couple more, for people to learn more about the mom behind the business 😊
What’s a quote or mantra you come back to often?
I have a couple actually.
First is a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” The second is one of my favorite scriptures. The latter part of Esther 4:14 says: “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”
Favorite way to spend a Saturday with your family?
Sleep in late and have breakfast together. Then spend time outdoors – a combo of yardwork, exploring our new property, or relaxing. And then grill for dinner, and cuddle watching a good movie.
One thing you never leave the house without besides keys and phone?
My coffee (if I’m out and about in the morning) or a large insulated cup with ice water.
Go to coffee order?
Cold brew with mocha flavor
Most used app on your phone?
Probably the Amazon Prime shopping app…
What’s your favorite way to relax and recharge after a long day?
My ideal evening of relaxing and recharging includes throwing on a good movie and snuggling on the couch with my boys.
Favorite TV show to binge after the kids go to bed?
Right now, “The Good Wife”, which is ironically a legal drama. But I also gravitate toward medical dramas. And “Ted Lasso” was amazing!
Where can people learn more, connect with you, or schedule a consultation?
Our website and social media platforms have an abundance of information about me, my staff, and our services. You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow our blog and YouTube channel. If you’re interested in scheduling a consult, you can call us, email us, or submit a contact request through our website. All of these options can be reached on or through our website at www.cornerstonelegalpllc.com.
Thank you, Katrina! GLAMoms has had the pleasure of working with the Cornerstone Legal team for over three years! During that time, we’ve learned so much about the importance of pre-planning for life’s tougher moments. Spoiler alert: it’s not as daunting as it sounds. It just takes a little time, and honestly, we’re not sure anyone makes the process smoother or more approachable than Katrina and her team.
We’re so grateful for this ongoing partnership and excited to keep sharing helpful tips, real stories, and thoughtful Q&As with those who’ve worked with Cornerstone Legal.
Happy Birth-Anniversary-Day to Cornerstone Legal! Here’s to another year of helping Greater Lansing families prepare for later so there’s less stress and more clarity (and fun) today. 🎂
Below are all the ways you can contact and learn more about Katrina and Cornerstone Legal PLLC!
Website – CornerstoneLegalPLLC
Click on any of the images below for more about Cornerstone Legal, Katrina Hofstetter with Greater Lansing Area Moms!
