SmartAdvocate Reviews

“powerful case management hub”

Pros

Having everything in one system makes SmartAdvocate really valuable for managing cases. It keeps case details organized in a single place and I really like being able to handle tasks, documents, notes and communications all within the same platform. The workflow and template customization is also a big plus since it helps us stay efficient while handling a heavy caseload.

Cons

At the beginning the system can feel a little overwhelming simply because there are so many features and customization options to work through.

“Good for organized case files”

Pros

One of the best parts of it is how well the files and cases are organized. It makes documents quick to locate whenever I need them.

Cons

The only thing that bothers me about it is that the left-side panel is not consistent across every case.

“Like the helpful layout”

Pros

SmartAdvocate offers really strong functionality overall. Every tool is user friendly and doesn't take long to learn. I also really like that the case notes are shown right on the main page and the overall layout works very well.

Cons

One thing I'd like to see improved is how case documents are organized. It would be much better if it used folders instead of keeping everything in one long list. I'd also like quicker responses to support tickets when reporting issues or bugs.

“All case details are centralized”

Pros

Having every bit of case information in one place has been a big advantage for us and the task management feature has saved a lot of time by helping us stay on top of assignments across the team. The case browse reports have also been really useful during our weekly status meetings because everyone can quickly see where things stand without having to sort through notes and emails in every individual case file.

Cons

Getting everything migrated and converted at the beginning was rougher than we expected. That said once the data was cleaned up and the system was fully worked into our firm's day to day operations, the CRM turned out to be user friendly, helpful to the firm and a great tool for managing our cases.

“simple navigation and quick client lookup”

Pros

It is very user friendly and the system isn't hard to navigate at all. It's also really quick to pull up client information when needed.

Cons

Nothing major but what did not work well for me was running the reports I needed for tracking data.

“fantastic reports and training”

Pros

Using this product has been very easy. The layout is well organized, the reports we're able to generate are really useful and the training resources from the staff have been a big help.

Cons

I'd really love to see is a mobile app that works reliably when I am out in the field. I can get by with my laptop but being able to quickly pull up a client's phone number or access contact details for a judge or opposing attorney on my phone would be incredibly helpful.

“Has useful tools”

Pros

It was quick to learn and the system is overall very user friendly. The customization features are helpful and the document management works really well too.

Cons

I'd love to see more flexibility with color customization especially a full color range so custom skins can be created.

“task tracking keeps me organized”

Pros

The task system has been the biggest highlight for me. Every day, I get a report showing exactly what needs my attention, along with any unfinished tasks and how long they've been sitting there which helps me stay on top of everything.

Cons

There is a bit of a learning curve at first. At one point, I assumed the emails I had saved to a file were gone but it turned out I had clicked an icon that was just hiding them. Once I turned it back on, everything I needed was still there.

“organized tabs that boost workflow”

Pros

Everything stays organized and efficient with separate tabs for different categories like names, phone numbers, insurance information, lien details and more.

Cons

Getting plugins set up for new employees or after updates has been a little challenging. The templates also still take a bit of time to work through but it's still worth it overall.

“Outstanding rollout and support”

Pros

From the start, the development and implementation teams were exceptional. Their communication, follow-up and overall execution went beyond what we expected. Because of the effort they put in, our conversion process had just one major issue and that was resolved very quickly without disrupting our work.

Cons

Well the Outlook calendar integration has been disappointing. I really wanted it to work well and tried a number of different approaches but it just didn't perform the way I hoped. I am still optimistic that this will get better over time. The QuickBooks integration does function but it comes with a few quirks that forced us to build workarounds. For example, only the primary contact address syncs to QuickBooks, there's no way to choose a mailing address for checks when a contact has multiple addresses and it doesn't handle a DBA name separately from the check payee name.

“detailed and useful features”

Pros

There's a lot packed into the software and I really appreciate how much detail you can go into with the features.

Cons

The help manual can be hit or miss and it doesn't always cover what you need when a question comes up.

“powerful workflow and support”

Pros

Getting around the back end features is very easy and the whole system is organized really well. SmartAdvocate helps end users streamline their work quickly and efficiently. The merge code flexibility is better than any other case management software I have used. Workplans are simple to build and even simpler to follow. The training materials are extensive and presented in a way that even very basic users can understand. On top of that customer service is friendly and exceptionally fast to respond.

Cons

One thing I'd really like to see added is a children option. For example, if I have a parent docket called expert deposition, I'd want to create documents underneath that docket so everything stays together in one clean, easy-to-locate place.

“Great layout!”

Pros

The layout is well done, the system is very detailed and it gives a lot of flexibility when it comes to annotating almost anything.

Cons

Not very user friendly at all. As even simple tasks take too many steps and in this industry, unclear processes only create more complications as each case builds on the last.

“Has the best daily-use features”

Pros

Navigating SmartAdvocate is very easy and it comes with plenty of features I rely on every day. The calendar function has been especially helpful.

Cons

One thing I don't like is that there still isn't a way to automate calendar reminders.

“powerful messaging and support”

Pros

There are quite a few useful features in it and the texting and email tools have been especially amazing. Tech support has also been excellent whenever needed.

Cons

Getting through the transition was challenging at first but I picked it up pretty quickly.

“user-friendly and easy to learn”

Pros

Since we started using it in October 2024, it has been a fantastic experience. The platform is very user friendly and getting comfortable with it didn't take long at all.

Cons

Honestly I don't have any complaints as I have really loved using it.

“helpful training and steady updates”

Pros

It keeps getting regular updates and the product continues to improve over time. The training team has also been very helpful whenever needed.

Cons

Completing a specific task takes several steps which can feel a bit more involved than it should be.

“Excellent support and powerful tools”

Pros

Their customer support has been outstanding and the advanced features really add a lot of value.

Cons

The hardest part was moving over from our old system and getting used to a completely new case management setup.

“client texting works brilliantly”

Pros

Being able to text my clients directly through this app has been a big plus and makes communication much more convenient.

Cons

Honestly there's very little about it that I dislike.

“super useful tool”

Pros

SmartAdvocate is really easy to use and the layout makes everything easy to find and use. It's been incredibly useful.

Cons

To be honest I don't have any complaints.