Smokeball Reviews & Pricing

Key Features

• Time and Expense Tracking: Automatically track time spent on in-platform tasks, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook and associate it with relevant legal matters. Prepare invoices for billable hours and run reports on profitability and productivity. 
  • Productivity Insights: Generate productivity reports by practice area, staff member and matter. Identify non-billable hours, potential issues and productive staff members to improve the firm’s bottom line. 
  • Automated Billing: Populate billing entries and send invoices directly from the time and expense tracking portal. Pull data from associated matters to automatically create customizable entries. 
• Document Automation: Draft and edit documents automatically from the information stored in associated legal matters. Integrate with Microsoft Word to move documents and generate PDFs directly from the source. 
  • Document Standardization: Improve the firm’s standard documentation processes with smarter fonts, letterheads and state-prescribed texts. 
  • Form Library: Access over 17,000 public legal documents through the Law Firm Form Library portal. Organize the forms by matter, contacts and/or practice areas and search by keywords. Automate form retrieval processes with “If, Then Else” and “Ask” commands. 
  • Area Specific Automation: Populate legal documentation with information specific to the associated matter. Eliminate overlapping of data with over 250 unique practice areas to choose from. 
• Client Portal: Smokeball Communicate provides clients with a simple messaging and file-sharing portal. Collaborate on cases, share updates and send files securely with multi-factor authentication and full encryption. 
  • Time Tracking: Automatically log all the hours spent on client correspondence to transform them into billable time. Concentrate all communication through a single portal to simplify tracking and billing. 
  • Communication Management: Directly turn messages into tasks. Manage all email correspondence, in-platform messages and in-app communications under the same roof. 
• Electronic Filing and Signatures: Integrate with InfoTrack and DocuSign to attach signature clauses to documents. Additionally, insert text boxes, radio buttons, checkboxes and more. 
  • Document Status: Keep track of all the documents sent for signatures. Automatically save the signed documents alongside associated legal matters. 
  • Court Searching and Tracking: Utilize InfoTrack to run searches across PACER, state courts, Federal and Bankruptcy courts, and trial and appeal boards. 
  • Filing Resources: Fill out 1099S forms, sign IT Electronic Signatures and legally incorporate firms anywhere in the U.S. Electronically file documents directly from the relevant legal matter with automated expense tracking. 
• Mobile Application: View and edit legal documentation, attend hearings, send emails and add billing entries from anywhere via the mobile app. Get a quick and clean overview of the legal calendar. 
• Workflow Management: Assign tasks to team members and set multiple reminders for important events, dates and hearings. 
  • Workflow Automation: Set up standardized automated workflows for regular processes like client intakes, filings, closings and more. 
  • Next Step: Create a sequence of simple or multi-step tasks against each other for every legal matter. Set up prescriptive tasks, litigation reminders and drafting deadlines in advance. 
  • Daily Digest: Broadcast an email every morning to staff members with reminders of upcoming tasks and events. 
• Case Management: Organize legal cases according to practice areas with matter-specific information. 
  • Digital File: Automatically structure all email correspondence according to associated matter. Staff members have complete access to every file relevant to their work. 
  • Data Structuring: Organize matter-specific information like emails, notes, documentation, billing information, contacts, case numbers and more under one file. Access files from any device with an internet connection. 
• Email Management: Sort thousands of emails into relevant folders to simplify access by staff members. Integrate with Microsoft Outlook to save an unlimited number of emails, grouped together by associated matter. 
  • Email Time Tracking: Send and receive emails to automatically log billable hours through the time tracking extension. Draft an email via the toolbar to autofill the address bar. 
  • PDF Creation: Convert any document to a PDF file or combine multiple ones into a single PDF before sending an email attachment. 
• Calendar Management: Create calendar entries and automatically link associated matter and client files to get a 360-degree view of legal cases. Sort the calendar by workweek, month and case timeline to always stay on top of obligations. 
  • Integration: Integrate with Microsoft Outlook to automatically track events and accepted invitations. 
  • Calendar Sync: Access everyone’s legal calendar to stay on top of important events and hearings. Automatically synchronize important dates and tasks across the entire staff’s calendars. 
• Firm Insights: Use the firm insights dashboard to generate reports on matter-type profitability, referral revenue, real-time performance and more. Filter reports based on practice areas for greater insights and agile decision-making. 
  • Flexible Analysis: Combine time tracked and billing reports to get greater insights into non-billable hours, profitable practice areas, write-offs, discounts and productivity. 
  • Workload Analysis: Identify which practice areas need more work. Use the insights dashboard to evenly distribute the workload between attorneys, assistants and paralegals. 
  • Fixed-Fee Data: Adjust fixed fees, client expectations and staff workloads based on real data from firm insights that show the true cost of work performed for each client. 
• Billing Management: Prepare custom invoices for firm activity traced by the time tracking portal. Interact directly with the relevant time entries to review and approve invoices. 
  • Integrations: The billing portal integrates with LawPay to process credit card payments and online transactions. Manage trust and operating accounts ethically and offer clients flexible payment options. Additional integrations include QuickBooks Online. 
  • Activity Codes: Create custom activity codes for similar time and expense entries to expedite data entry and billing. 

Approach to Common Challenges

• Inefficient Workflow Management: Smokeball streamlines tasks with automated document generation, time tracking, and billing, freeing time for lawyers to focus on client services.
• Disorganized Case Management: Smokeball provides a centralized platform to organize documents, track deadlines, and monitor case progress, enhancing efficiency and transparency.
• Poor Client Communication: Smokeball's secure client portal facilitates communication, allowing clients to access documents, invoices, and updates, fostering trust and engagement.
• Inaccurate Time Tracking: Smokeball's automated time tracking ensures every billable hour is captured, maximizing revenue and preventing underbilling.
• Lack of Collaboration Tools: Smokeball empowers teams to collaborate on cases through a shared platform, facilitating information sharing and boosting team productivity.
• Data Security Concerns: Smokeball's cloud-based platform employs robust security measures to safeguard client data and ensure compliance with legal regulations.
• Limited Scalability: Smokeball adapts to firm growth, offering flexible plans and scalable features to support expanding caseloads and evolving needs.

Cost Of Ownership

• Q: What is the starting price for Smokeball?
  A: Smokeball offers four pricing plans ranging from $39 to $219 per month, depending on the number of users and desired features. This makes it a relatively affordable option for solo practitioners and small firms, although larger firms may find the cost to be more significant. It's important to carefully consider your needs and budget when choosing a plan.
• Q: Are there any additional costs beyond the monthly subscription?
  A: While the monthly subscription covers the core features, additional costs may apply depending on your usage. These can include: per-user fees for exceeding the plan's allowance, data storage fees for exceeding the included storage space, and integrations fees for connecting with specific third-party applications. Understanding these potential charges is crucial for accurate budgeting.
• Q: How does Smokeball compare to other Legal Practice Management software in terms of value?
  A: Smokeball's cost falls within the average range for similar software, offering a competitive balance between features and price. However, the specific value proposition depends on your individual needs. Consider factors like user count, required features, desired integrations, and budget flexibility to determine if Smokeball offers better value compared to competitors like Clio or Law Ruler.

Demo Resources

• Case Studies: Explore real-life examples of how law firms have benefited from Smokeball, showcasing the platform's impact on efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
• Webinars: Attend live or on-demand webinars hosted by legal technology experts, gaining valuable insights into Smokeball's features and functionalities through interactive presentations and Q&A sessions.
• E-books and Guides: Access comprehensive guides and e-books packed with information on Smokeball's capabilities, best practices for implementation, and success stories from satisfied users.
• Blog Posts: Stay updated on the latest Smokeball developments and industry trends through informative blog posts that provide in-depth analysis and practical advice for legal professionals.
• Free Trial: Experience Smokeball firsthand with a free trial, giving you hands-on access to the platform to explore its features and functionalities at your own pace.

Limitations

•  Can’t password protect specific case information. 
•  No MacOS support. 
•  Setting up document templates can be time-consuming. 
•  Users can’t perform standalone conflict searches. 

Suite Support

FAQ

• Q: How can I learn Smokeball's features efficiently?
  A: Smokeball offers a variety of training resources, including online tutorials, documentation, and video demonstrations. Additionally, many law firms utilize in-person or online training sessions facilitated by Smokeball experts. Participating in online communities and forums dedicated to Smokeball can also be helpful for learning tips and tricks from other users. The most efficient approach combines using these resources with hands-on practice within the software.
• Q: How can I troubleshoot common Smokeball issues?
  A: Smokeball provides a comprehensive support portal featuring troubleshooting guides, FAQs, and a searchable knowledge base. Users can also submit support tickets directly to the Smokeball team for assistance with specific issues. Additionally, online communities and forums dedicated to Smokeball often have discussions and solutions for common problems. Consulting these resources can often resolve issues quickly without requiring direct contact with support.
• Q: How can I integrate Smokeball with other legal software?
  A: Smokeball offers integrations with various legal software applications through its API or pre-built connectors. These integrations allow users to seamlessly share data and automate workflows between different programs. Smokeball's website provides a list of compatible applications and resources for setting up integrations. Utilizing these integrations can streamline workflows and improve efficiency within a law firm.
• Q: How can I customize Smokeball to fit my specific legal needs?
  A: Smokeball offers various customization options, including custom fields, workflows, and reporting tools. Users can configure these features to automate tasks, manage data effectively, and generate reports tailored to their specific legal practice areas. Additionally, Smokeball's professional services team can assist with more complex customization needs. Utilizing these customization options can optimize Smokeball's functionality to meet the unique requirements of different law firms.
• Q: How can I ensure the security of my data in Smokeball?
  A: Smokeball takes data security seriously and implements various security measures to protect user information. These measures include data encryption, access controls, and regular security audits. Additionally, Smokeball complies with industry-standard security regulations. Users can further enhance security by implementing strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and adhering to best practices for data security within their law firm.