hˈɑːfmən wʌz ɐdmˈɪɾᵻd tə ðə mˈɪʃɪɡən bˈɑːɹ ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks ænd kəmˈɛnst pɹˈæktɪs ɪn ˈælɛɡən, mˈɪʃɪɡən, wˌɛɹ hiː ˈɔːlsoʊ bɪkˌeɪm pɹˈɑːsɪkjˌuːɾɪŋ ɐtˈɜːni fɚðə kˈaʊnti fɹʌm nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd tˈɛn.
Hoffman was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1896 and commenced practice in Allegan, Michigan, where he also became prosecuting attorney for the county from 1904–1910.