Smokeball Reviews

Pros

Having individualized account management has been great and the integration with email works seamlessly.

Cons

At times, searches for work completed on other files do not always return the results expected. That said there is a workflow procedure available to help with this and I am still not fully up to speed on how it works.

Pros

Getting new matters set up and managed has been very simple. Just as important, their account management team has shown that they genuinely care about customers by being responsive and proactive. I feel confident that the support I need will be there when I need it. I also appreciate the replies I receive when I submit tickets for feature requests. It's obvious they're building the software in a way that directly reflects customer feedback and requests.

Cons

Smokeball isn't flawless and from time to time there are minor bugs or inconsistencies. Moving fully to a new firm management system is always an adjustment and this transition has been no different. Even so, Smokeball has continued to feel more user-friendly and manageable the longer I use it.

Pros

The integrations are a huge win for us. My two favorites are Microsoft with Outlook especially being able to link emails with a single click and Ring Central. Those features help my staff and me bill accurately without having to remember when telephone calls started and ended. I'm also extremely happy with our Account Manager, Mark. He stays on top of every issue and if it's outside his scope, he quickly connects us with the right person who can help.

Cons

One area that really frustrates me is the essential forms integration. I don't like that a completed form can only be edited by the person who originally created it because that slows our workflow down a lot. I'm also not a fan of how workflows are set up. I'd rather be able to create a workflow checklist that opens inside a file instead of having workflows automatically assigned as Tasks.

Pros

It has been a really user-friendly experience and the support team is absolutely amazing. The Outlook integration works fantastically. It gives me real peace of mind knowing everything is scheduled on the calendar and reminders pop up for all of my to-dos. Since it's cloud-based, I can work from anywhere in the world.

Cons

I honestly can't think of any downsides and even if something did come up, I'm confident they would address it.

Pros

In legal work so much time gets eaten up by repeating the same motions, letters and other routine tasks. Smokeball has taken a lot of the mental load out of billing which lets me put more attention on my clients and the substantive side of the job. Thanks to its automation, I've had more time for research, stronger writing, investigating facts and cases and showing up better prepared for court appearances. It has had such a big impact on how this firm operates that I would honestly turn down a job offer from another firm if they weren't using Smokeball. By capturing billable time that used to slip through the cracks, it has more than paid for itself.

Cons

I'm genuinely happy with the software overall, my only wish is that it were more readily compatible with Mac products.

Pros

Right from onboarding, it followed through on its promise of tight Office 365 integration. The Account Manager was incredibly responsive throughout the setup process and the platform has helped make my estate planning practice both more productive and more profitable. On top of that, my Account Manager introduced me to tools I now use in other areas of my firm as well, including family law and litigation.

Cons

I'm still getting up to speed with the billing side of Smokeball.

Pros

The document assembly tools, matter-based document and email storage and billing features have been really valuable. Customer support and account management have also been outstanding.

Cons

The billing side could still use some improvement. Tagging emails to matters also needs work, possibly with better Office 365 integration.

Pros

It comes with a lot of features and one of the best parts is that they keep updating the platform on a regular basis.

Cons

Honestly I'm happy with just about everything. There are a few areas that could be adjusted but we can send in feedback and, in many cases, they actually make changes based on it.

Pros

The software is very uncomplicated and the training, support and account management have all been excellent.

Cons

I'm satisfied with every aspect of the system that we use.

Pros

This software has been amazing overall and the account management side of it is the best part.

Cons

there is not much to complain about. The only thing that could be better is the mobile app. From what I understand, a revamp is coming soon and I'm really looking forward to seeing that finished.