Smokeball Reviews

Pros

Having everything in one program has been a huge plus especially since it connects with other tools and keeps us from entering the same information into three different systems.

Cons

It can be a bit slow at times although that seems more related to our internet connection than to the software itself.

Pros

Working in a small family law firm, it has been a huge win for our office. As a paralegal, the features I rely on most are the form automation, automatic time tracking and billing entries, calendar integration and file management. My absolute favorites though, are the Tasks feature and the Daily Digest Pane. Attorneys can assign tasks to team members and those can be split into subtasks which makes organizing simple to-do lists really practical. The Daily Digest Pane lays out the day's schedule at a glance so it's simple to stay on top of both current work and what's coming up next. On top of that, the customer service has been outstanding. The support reps really know the product and respond quickly whenever we need help. More than once, when there wasn't already a fix for my issue, they submitted a work ticket and actually came back with a solution.

Cons

One feature I genuinely appreciate in Communicate is the secure link option since it lets me send documents to other parties safely without having to rely on something like Dropbox or ShareFile. It's very convenient and simple on my side but the people receiving the documents often seem to struggle with figuring out how to open them. Most of the time it comes down to user error on their end but it still becomes a hassle for me when they have to call and ask for help.

Pros

Everyday tasks take a fraction of the time with Smokeball and a lot of the routine work now feels like it gets done in seconds. The mobile app has been a big plus too and I really appreciate that the company keeps updating and improving the product instead of letting it sit still. The forms automation works seamlessly and they offer as much training as you need, whether it's for a new feature or just a refresher. The Smokeball Communicator feature has also been really helpful especially with so many offices working remotely during the pandemic.

Cons

Would be nice if it connected to an e-filing provider that doesn't charge a fee for every filing. During the pandemic especially, most clients don't want to hear they need to pay an extra $3.00 per filing just for the attorney's convenience.

Pros

Having one central place for all of my important, time-sensitive documents matters a lot to me. It makes my workspace more efficient and productive because I know that whenever I need to pull up a document, it's right there at my fingertips. When deadlines are involved, that kind of efficiency and time savings really makes a huge difference.

Cons

I'd like to have notes for internal staff on a matter where everyone can interact and respond to each other. I just haven't figured out a way to make that happen yet.

Pros

From day one, it has saved me a ton of time. It's hands down the most user-friendly matter management and timekeeping platform I've used in my career. As an associate, I really value all the extra features it offers that make the administrative side of my job especially tracking time, much more manageable. That's a big win for me, the firm and our clients. Being able to pull it up on my iPhone when needed is a huge plus too.

Cons

My only real wish is that the automatic time capture would also track the time I spend doing online research and working in Lexis.

Pros

Getting started was very easy because the system is user friendly and didn't take long to learn. On top of that, the Smokeball team genuinely seems to care about the people using the software and is always available to answer questions or help when something comes up. I also appreciate that they can be reached by phone whenever we run into issues or need assistance building templates for the documents we use most often.

Cons

Honestly there's not much to complain about. If I had to point out anything, it would be that the system can take a bit too long to boot up in the morning and every now and then it freezes for about a minute when switching from tasks back to the matters tab.

Pros

Running a small firm without Smokeball is hard to imagine at this point. It automates forms, answers support questions quickly and genuinely helps solo and small firm practitioners handle day-to-day administration across the board. I originally bought it for the email tracking features but it pays for itself because it helps me capture every minute of my time. Just one billable hour covers the monthly cost. I hardly even reply to emails outside the platform anymore because I'm hooked on the cloud-based tracking of all file activity. On top of that, I can securely send large files, encrypt messages and automate routine forms. Honestly I feel like I'm Smokeball's biggest fan in New York and I'm not even using everything it can do yet.

Cons

Nothing really, they keep releasing updated versions that improve on any weak spots they have.

Pros

The webinars do a really good job of walking through newly released features so I can understand how to use them properly and even ask questions live as they come up.

Cons

I don't really have much of a connection with my client specialist. Most of the time I end up speaking with the tech team, who are usually able to solve whatever issue I'm dealing with or I reach out directly to Chad for anything related to billing.

Pros

Even without going through the training, the layout felt user-friendly and simple to navigate. Their support team has also been incredibly responsive whenever questions come up and they provide clear step-by-step guidance. Another big plus is the integration with Outlook, QuickBooks and Microsoft Office which makes time tracking much more manageable. Just by keeping a better record of the time I spend on my computer, I've been able to double my billing.

Cons

Microsoft Office sometimes thinks the add-in is slowing things down and tries to disable it so Office can launch faster.

Pros

Since switching to it, our small firm has become far more organized and efficient than it used to be. The support team is quick to respond and consistently fantastic. It also offers a huge amount of functionality so there's a lot this software can handle for our practice.

Cons

My only real issue is the user count in the contract. If you sign for a certain number of users, you're locked into paying for that number for the full year and can't reduce it. For a small business that changes and grows often, that can be tough because if we sign with 5 users on our annual contract, we still have to pay for all 5 even if we later drop to 4 or 3.

Pros

Being able to connect Microsoft Office with it has easily been the biggest benefit for us. The Outlook add-on lets us attach client emails directly to the right file in Smokeball and that has been a huge time saver. I no longer have to dig through my entire inbox trying to track down one random email. On top of that, linking emails to client files has also helped reduce office supply expenses for the firm, including things like copy paper and printer ink or toner.

Cons

The part I like least is the billing side of the system. Our office manager had worked with Amicus for more than 20 years so that area has been an adjustment. Even so, Smokeball's customer service team has been outstanding, to the point that they have actually built what we needed from scratch.

Pros

Every part feels designed with usability in mind. Moving over from our old Amicus system was quick and hassle-free. Most of our documents were already automated and setting up the remaining miscellaneous ones through the automation tools was very simple. That feature by itself has cut out hours of typing every day. Matters and file types are well organized, with plenty of room for case-specific customization. The email integration, calendaring tools and syncing, time tracking and the newer Timeline feature are all standout additions. On top of being an excellent program, Smokeball provides a large library of instructional videos that make it much easier to learn and fully use every feature. Their customer service and IT support are outstanding as well.

Cons

Only issue that comes up from time to time is loading speed although even that has been getting noticeably faster recently.

Pros

It feels incredibly user friendly and my favorite part has to be the app. You can install it on your smartphone and quickly pull up all your files whenever you're away from the office.

Cons

It saves me a huge amount of time and has absolutely been worth switching to.

Pros

Being able to log in from any device is a huge bonus. As long as there's an internet connection, work can keep moving. The task feature is also really useful for tracking progress and staying updated on what staff members are working on.

Cons

The downside is that if the internet goes down, work comes to a stop. I'd also love the option to print tasks and open files directly from tasks through a hyperlink.

Pros

After 6 years working as a paralegal, Smokeball is hands down the best case management and billing software I've used. I'm at a small firm where every minute matters and the AutoTime feature is easily my favorite part of the platform. If your small firm wants to make the most of its time, Smokeball is absolutely worth trying. You really won't regret it.

Cons

It is a bit expensive but with all of the time-saving features included, I think it's well worth the cost. It has already paid for itself just in the billing time it has saved me.

Pros

This software has made me a more effective lawyer and helped me recover billable time I had been missing every month. It's very user-friendly and the integration with Microsoft is a big plus as well.

Cons

They recently updated the mobile app and now when I open it on my tablet, the layout looks off and it's harder to use.

Pros

The flexibility and range of features are excellent. The free training is simple to book and does a really good job of showing users how robust the platform actually is.

Cons

There are still a few bugs in the reporting side of the system right now but support has been helpful whenever issues come up and the engineering team is actively working on fixes and updates.

Pros

Keeping files organized and easy to access is where it really shines. I also appreciate the regular updates and the outstanding IT support team which has consistently handled technical issues quickly and efficiently.

Cons

billing side of the software feels more complicated than it should be and still misses a few features that competitors like Sage Timeslips offer. Updates do come out often though and while the program was missing quite a few features at first, that has largely been addressed.

Pros

Everything about it feels very convenient. The AI feature picks up so much lost time and the timekeeping tool has been incredibly helpful. Our staff has been able to automate a huge portion of the practice with it.

Cons

The only thing I'd really want changed is the ability to link emails directly to a client's file from the app. Aside from that, I wouldn't change a thing.

Pros

Once the case and contact details are entered, they stay in the system for future matters which saves a lot of time. The layout is very clear and simple to work with. Our attorneys can pull up the system and client information from wherever they are which is a huge benefit. Support has also been very helpful anytime an issue comes up. I also appreciate that documents are not permanently deleted so if something gets removed by mistake or needs to be reviewed again, it can simply be restored. On top of that, merging PDF files into a single document is simple and convenient.

Cons

A limitation is that certain files, such as disks containing videos, cannot be downloaded and added into the Smokeball file. Also, files cannot be transferred automatically so all of the information has to be entered again at the beginning.