In this episode of Power Up Your Practice, host Ruby Powers talks with Ben Hokema, founder of Illuminate Wealth Management and the Owner’s Financial Office.

Ben works with law firm owners to bring structure, clarity, and calm to their finances—from daily cash flow to long-term retirement planning. He explains why so many lawyers fall into “owner’s poverty,” what the Profit First model actually changes, and how to shift your mindset from just surviving to building real profit.

🔹 What "Owner’s Poverty" is—and how to escape it

🔹 The Profit First model (and why it works)

🔹 Why your CPA isn’t enough

🔹 Building retirement plans before it's too late

🔹 Daily decisions that lead to long-term financial clarity

🎧 This episode is sponsored by Lawfully Pro: https://www.lawfully.com/pro

📌 Connect with Ben Hokema: ownersfinancialoffice.com

📌 Join the conversation in our Power Up Your Practice community! Hosted by Ruby Powers — each week we feature firm leaders, legal innovators, and expert guests sharing tools and strategies to help you grow a smarter, healthier, and more profitable law practice.

🌐 Website: powersstrategygroup.com

📺 YouTube: @powersstrategygroup

💬 Skool Community – Power Hub: skool.com/powerupyourpractice

📚 Power Up Your Practice — available now on Amazon

Trusted Resources from Our Toolkit

• Stafi • Lawmatics • Filevine • Candle AI

In this episode of Power Up Your Practice, host Ruby Powers sits down with Phillip Hogan, Founder and President of Signing Services of America, a nationwide notary company based in Atlanta.

Phillip shares how he scaled from being a solo signing agent to leading a national operation by focusing on one timeless principle — responsiveness builds trust.

They discuss the art of client communication, the importance of admitting mistakes, and how to develop a team culture rooted in service, transparency, and adaptability.

🔹 How responsiveness directly impacts client retention and reputation

🔹 What true leadership looks like when things go wrong 🔹 Training, cross-training, and empowering teams to deliver consistency

🔹 How adaptability became his secret to scaling sustainably

If you’re a business owner or law firm leader who wants to strengthen relationships, improve client experience, and grow through trust — this episode is for you.

📌 Connect with Phillip Hogan:

🔹 LinkedIn: Phillip Hogan

📌 Join the conversation in our Power Up Your Practice community! Hosted by Ruby Powers — your guide into the heart of law practice management. Each week, learn insights from leading legal minds, trailblazing entrepreneurs, and experts who share actionable advice and fresh perspectives to help you grow your firm effectively and sustainably.

🌐 Website: powersstrategygroup.com

📺 YouTube: @powersstrategygroup

💬 Join our Skool Community – Power Hub: skool.com/powerupyourprac

📚 Ruby’s Book: Power Up Your Practice — available now on Amazon (Paperback + eBook)

Trusted Resources from Our Toolkit • Stafi 

• Lawmatics 

• Filevine 

• Candle AI

In this episode of Power Up Your Practice, host Ruby Powers sits down with Tara Landes, Founder & CEO of Bellrock, who has spent over 25 years helping more than 300 business leaders unlock their potential through practical management and leadership systems.

A certified Change Management Practitioner and licensed Influence Trainer from the Cialdini Institute, Tara has dedicated her career to helping professionals turn ambition into structure and strategy into growth.

Ruby and Tara unpack the real difference between management and leadership —and why mastering both is the key to scaling any law firm without burning out. Together, they dive into practical frameworks for delegation, time-blocking, team engagement, and the mindset shift every lawyer-turned-leader must make.

🔹 Why lawyers need to think like CEOs—not just practitioners

🔹 How to build a mid-management layer that prevents bottlenecks and burnout

🔹 The leadership habits that keep firms sustainable and teams motivated

🔹 How “climbing the tree” helps leaders see the bigger picture

🔹 Why rest, reflection and “shower time” are part of the job

If you’re ready to move from busy to brilliant and build a firm that runs without you, this conversation is your roadmap to becoming the leader your practice needs.

📌 Connect with Tara Landes: 🔹 Website: www.bellrock.ca 🔹 LinkedIn: Tara Landes

📌 Join the conversation in our Power Up Your Practice community! Hosted by Ruby Powers — your guide into the world of law practice management. Each week, Ruby interviews leading legal minds, trailblazing attorneys and expert guests who share actionable advice and fresh perspectives to help you grow your firm with clarity and confidence.

Prepare to open your mind, be inspired, and power up your practice to the next level.

🌐 Website: powersstrategygroup.com

📺 YouTube: @powersstrategygroup

💬 Join our Skool Community – Power Hub: skool.com/powerupyourprac

📚 Ruby’s Book: Power Up Your Practice — available now on Amazon (Paperback + eBook)

Trusted Resources from Our Toolkit:

• Stafi

• Lawmatics

• Filevine

• Candle AI

In this episode of Power Up Your Practice, host Ruby Powers sits down with Cat Moon, Professor of the Practice at Vanderbilt Law School and Director of the Vanderbilt AI + Law Lab. A recognized innovator in legal education, Cat is on a mission to make the law more human-centered—and to empower the next generation of lawyers to lead with authenticity, curiosity, and compassion.

Ruby and Cat explore how technology, especially AI, is reshaping the way law is taught and practiced, the importance of representation in AI, and how women in the profession are driving change from within.

🔹 Why legal education must evolve for the AI era

🔹 How the Women+AI Initiative is amplifying diverse voices in tech

🔹 What “human-centered law” means—and how firms can embody it

🔹 How authenticity and compassion can redefine leadership in law

If you’re curious about the intersection of AI, legal innovation, and leadership—and how to prepare your practice (and mindset) for what’s next—this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.

📌 Connect with Cat Moon:

🔹 Website: Vanderbilt AI + Law Lab

🔹 LinkedIn: Cat Moon

📌 Join the conversation in our Power Up Your Practice community! Hosted by Ruby Powers, your guide into the heart of law practice management. Each week, learn insights from leading legal minds, trailblazing attorneys, and expert guests who provide actionable advice, out-of-the-box solutions, and a fresh perspective on running your firm more effectively and efficiently.

Prepare to open your mind, be inspired, and power up your practice to the next level.

🌐 Website: powersstrategygroup.com

📺 YouTube: @powersstrategygroup

💬 Join our Skool Community – Power Hub: skool.com/powerupyourpractice

📚 Ruby’s Book: Power Up Your Practice — available now on Amazon (Paperback + eBook)

Trusted Resources from Our Toolkit • Stafi

• Lawmatics

• Filevine

• CandleAI

In this episode of Power Up Your Practice, host Ruby Powers sits down with Kara Peterson and Richard DiBona, co-founders of Descrybe.ai, a platform transforming access to U.S. case law.Driven by a personal experience and fueled by curiosity, this husband-and-wife team—recognized as 2025 Legal Technology Awards Finalists—built a tool that makes millions of court decisions searchable in plain English or Spanish, with clear, simplified summaries accessible to everyone.Ruby, Kara, and Richard explore how Descrybe.ai bridges the gap between legal information and legal advice, empowers small firms, and levels the playing field for those without Big Law budgets.🔹 How Descrybe.ai makes complex case law easy to understand🔹 Why access to justice starts with access to information🔹 How AI helps legal professionals (and law students!) work smarter🔹 What Descrybe’s journey reveals about innovation and disruption in legal techIf you believe the law should be a right—not a privilege—this conversation will inspire you to think differently about how technology can serve justice.📌 Connect with Kara & Richard:🔹 Website: descrybe.ai🔹 LinkedIn: Kara Peterson | Richard DiBona📌 Join the conversation in our Power Up Your Practice community!Hosted by Ruby Powers, your guide into the heart of law practice management. Each week, learn insights from leading legal minds, trailblazing attorneys, and expert guests who provide actionable advice, out-of-the-box solutions, and a fresh perspective on running your firm more effectively and efficiently.Prepare to open your mind, be inspired, and power up your practice to the next level.🌐 Website: powersstrategygroup.com📺 YouTube: @powersstrategygroup💬 Join our Skool Community – Power Hub: skool.com/powerupyourprac📚 Ruby’s Book: Power Up Your Practice — available now on Amazon (Paperback + eBook)Trusted Resources from Our Toolkit • Stafi: https://calendly.com/d/csbk-3y4-35w/s... • Lawmatics: https://www.lawmatics.com/partnerlead... • Filevine: https://www.filevine.com/demo-request... • CandleAI: https://www.trycandle.ai/powers

In this episode of Power Up Your Practice, host Ruby Powers welcomes Alex McLaughlin, Vice President of Product at Filevine. With years of experience leading product strategy and innovation, Alex helps drive Filevine’s mission to unify case management, documents, financials, and AI into one seamless platform.Recorded live at the LEX Summit 2025 in Filevine’s onsite studio, Alex joins Ruby to unpack why law firms are moving beyond scattered “point solutions” and embracing a single pane of glass approach to legal technology.🔹 What “single pane of glass” means — and why it’s changing the game for legal teams🔹 How unifying case management, documents, and financials increases productivity and reduces costs🔹 Where AI fits in: balancing automation, security, and client trust🔹 Practical examples of firms gaining insights and efficiency from unified data🔹 The next big wins in LegalTech and how to prepare your firm for themIf you’re curious about the future of LegalTech, the power of integrated platforms, and how to keep your firm competitive in an AI-driven world, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.📌 Connect with Alex McLaughlin:🔹 Website: filevine.com🔹 LinkedIn: Alex McLaughlin📌 Join the conversation in our Power Up Your Practice community!Hosted by Ruby Powers, your guide into the heart of law practice management. Each week, learn insights from leading legal minds, trailblazing attorneys, and expert guests who provide you with actionable advice, out-of-the-box solutions, and a fresh perspective on running your firm more effectively and efficiently.Prepare to open your mind, be inspired, and power up your practice to the next level.Watch more episodes of Power Up Your Practice on:🌐 Website: powersstrategygroup.com📺 YouTube: @powersstrategygroup💬 Join our Skool Community – Power Hub: https://www.skool.com/powerupyourpracConnect and learn more from your host, Ruby Powers:🔹 LinkedIn: /rubypowers🔹 Facebook: /poweruppractice🔹 Website: rubypowers.com🔹 Ruby’s Book: Power Up Your Practice on AmazonTrusted Resources from Our Toolkit• Stafi: https://calendly.com/d/csbk-3y4-35w/staffing-strategy-session-stafi-ruby-powers?month=2025-07• Lawmatics: https://www.lawmatics.com/partnerleads/?referral_partner=Powers%20Strategy%20Group• Filevine: https://www.filevine.com/demo-request/?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=advocate&pscd=partner.filevine.com&ps_partner_key=ZjM3ZWMzMGEzZTk0&ps_xid=WuOqa719Z4ey8R&gsxid=WuOqa719Z4ey8R&gspk=ZjM3ZWMzMGEzZTk0CandleAI: https://www.trycandle.ai/powers

This week we’re celebrating a milestone—Power Up Your Practice turns ONE! 🎉
Published on September 28 last year, Ruby Powers’ book has been helping law firm leaders work smarter and build thriving practices all year long.

In this special solo episode, Ruby shares:
✅ Key lessons from a year of the book inspiring firms everywhere✅ Her favorite success stories from readers putting strategies into action✅ What’s next for Power Up Your Practice and the movement it sparked

📌 Connect with Ruby Powers🔹 LinkedIn: /rubypowers🔹 Facebook: /poweruppractice🔹 Website: rubypowers.com🔹 Ruby’s Book: Power Up Your Practice on Amazon (paperback & Kindle)

📌 Join the conversation in our Power Up Your Practice community!
Hosted by Ruby Powers, your guide into the heart of law practice management. Each week, learn insights from leading legal minds, trailblazing attorneys, and expert guests who provide actionable advice, out-of-the-box solutions, and a fresh perspective on running your firm more effectively and efficiently.
Prepare to open your mind, be inspired, and power up your practice to the next level.

Watch more episodes of Power Up Your Practice on:🌐 Website: powersstrategygroup.com📺 YouTube: @powersstrategygroup

💬 Join our Skool Community – Power Hub: https://www.skool.com/powerupyourprac

Trusted Resources from Our Toolkit• Stafi• Lawmatics• Filevine

In this episode of Power Up Your Practice, Ruby Powers talks with Morgan Maguire, Co-Founder and CEO of Lex Select, about transforming the way lawyers handle documents and data.

Morgan shares how Lex Select’s AI-driven tools tackle the headaches of PDFs and unstructured data, giving lawyers trustworthy summaries, instant citations, and seamless integration into existing workflows. Together they discuss:

✅ Why AI is an ally, not a replacement, for lawyers

✅ How small and mid-size firms can compete with big law through smart tech

✅ Strategies to unlock hidden knowledge in old case files and legacy data

✅ Practical tips for auditing and upgrading your legal tech stack

If you’re ready to cut hours of low-value work and focus on high-impact lawyering, this conversation shows how to harness AI you can actually trust.

📌 Join the conversation in our Power Up Your Practice community! Hosted by Ruby Powers, your guide into the heart of law practice management. Each week, learn insights from leading legal minds, trailblazing attorneys, and expert guests who provide you with actionable advice, out-of-the-box solutions, and a fresh perspective on running your firm more effectively and efficiently.

Prepare to open your mind, be inspired, and power up your practice to the next level.

Watch more episodes of Power Up Your Practice on: 🌐 Website: powersstrategygroup.com

📺 YouTube: @powersstrategygroup

💬 Join our Skool Community - Power Hub: https://www.skool.com/powerupyourprac

Connect and learn more from your host, Ruby Powers:

🔹 LinkedIn: /rubypowers

🔹 Facebook: /poweruppractice

🔹 Website: rubypowers.com

🔹 Ruby's Book: Power Up Your Practice on Amazon

Trusted Resources from Our Toolkit

• Stafi

• Lawmatics

• Filevine