Smokeball Reviews

“Very user friendly for new users

Pros

The platform is very user friendly. Like I just started using it and already feel like I have a good handle on how everything works.

Cons

At times the service can be a bit slow at times which I do not like. Other than that, I am a big fan of the program.

“Great value and keeps me organized

Pros

You get great customer service and excellent value for your money. It also keeps me organized and on top of deadlines. Plus it provides a complete digital history for every single file.

Cons

I wish they had not reorganized the forms and documents section. It was much easier to find things the way it was before. Other than that I cannot think of any complaints!

“Amazing integration with Microsoft products

Pros

The integration with Microsoft products, especially Outlook is amazing. Also the forms library, the new AI and the billing integration with QuickBooks Online are all great. I mean whats not to like here?

Cons

As I said before what is not to like? Every single issue I have ever reported has been fixed or addressed by them. It might take some time but they genuinely want to work with their customers.

“excellent platform for file sharing

Pros

It is is an excellent platform for file sharing. We have been using it for about eight years and as our firm has grown, it has become essential for managing our caseload. It gives our paralegals and attorneys constant access to every open file which is a lifesaver when someone is in court or a deposition and needs a document immediately. We have also eliminated physical storage for old paper files because we can purge them after a case closes, knowing everything is always available digitally in the tool.

Cons

Our only real problem with it has been the billing software. When we first started, it left a lot to be desired especially since we came from a dedicated billing system. It has improved a lot since then though we still hit an occasional glitch. Thankfully, the technicians usually resolve it quickly.

“No longer good for small practices

Pros

The automatic time tracking and email saving were real innovations. It was a breath of fresh air after using Actionstep. The trust account management and support are also very good.

Cons

Well the AI and other advanced features are not worth the high price for us. Also they cannot customize the software to fit what our firm actually needs. So it is no longer a good practice management solution for a small practice. They are just getting greedy.

“Incredibly useful workflows and task lists

Pros

Smokeball workflows and task lists we can set up are incredibly useful. They help us maintain a standard procedure and keep everyone accountable. The contact cards are helpful too and I love the tags for tracking matters and linking multiple cases to a single client. The forms and templates save us so much time on letters and court documents. The time and expense tracking is also wonderful and we use InfoTrack often for e-signatures on court filings. The memo feature is also invaluable for keeping the whole team updated on each client and matter.

Cons

My main complaint is that when bugs get fixed, the same ones often pop up again later. The glitches do eventually get resolved but it takes a while and they tend to come back.

“Easy file access from anywhere

Pros

My favorite part is the phone app. I can pull up any client file from anywhere. Plus it is easy to use and makes accessing files in court not a issue.

Cons

I wish there was a simpler way to create all my invoices without having to open each individual matter. Other than that I love everything about it.

“constantly improving platform

Pros

I love the complete package of CRM, billing and document drafting. On top of that, the platform keeps getting better with regular updates that incorporate new technology and legal changes.

Cons

The cost for attorney licenses is high and the support staff licenses are almost too expensive to justify. I have actually held off on hiring support staff because of the license cost. I mean there should really be a support staff rate under $100.

“Creates great workplace efficiency

Pros

I really like how it creates efficiency in the workplace. I am also a big fan of Archie, the AI feature.

Cons

To be honest I cannot think of any major downsides, except that sometimes it won't sync properly with Outlook 365 when we schedule events through Outlook.

“makes document and term search simple

Pros

Finding any document or specific term across all our cases is incredibly simple. The built-in billing software with its timer is also extremely useful too and I love how the templates automatically pull details from each individual matter.

Cons

Sometimes it randomly unchecks boxes I have filled in on forms and the billing page occasionally won't load in the browser.

“Absolute best time saving automations

Pros

The automations are the absolute best part and a massive time-saver! It was love at first sight with the automated forms. I must say what an amazing feature.

Cons

My main issue is that I cannot set a reminder for a task on the same day it's due. The system only lets you set them for other days but a same-day alert would be perfect.

“Collaborative and customizable reporting features

Pros

They actually collaborate with our firm to build the specialized reports we require. Another huge plus is being able to arrange files with my own folder structure and not being stuck with a bunch of default folders I don't need.

Cons

I wish I had a more detailed guide to work with but I know this is partly on me. Also I would love to have step by step tutorial for setting up templates. I have so many I want to create but I do not have the time to watch long videos to figure out each little step.

“Neatly organized for easy locating

Pros

I like how Smokeball is neatly organized into clients, matters and time & expenses, it makes it easy to locate exactly what we are looking for.

Cons

It can sometimes take a long time to load and you need a constant internet connection to find your documents.

“great for drafting and file organization

Pros

Well I am a big fan of how Smokeball helps draft legal documents and keeps all my files neatly organized in a single location.

Cons

I wish the Archie AI was more capable. I have had some problems with it like it does not do a great job summarizing deposition transcripts. So I find myself using ChatGPT because it's more helpful.

“Game changing access to all files

Pros

Having access to all my files no matter where I am is a game-changer. I have taken my computer to depositions and trials without needing to haul around boxes of paper.

Cons

Some parts of the interface like the section for tracking settlement talks, feel a bit clunky and are not the easiest to use.

“Consolidates everything into one system

Pros

It consolidates everything into one system which is very useful for both our clients and the firm. In short everything is well-organized and the customer service is great too.

Cons

only thing that really bothers me is the character limit on messages. If I write too much, it just stops me from sending it.

“So user friendly for new staff

Pros

The software is so user-friendly which is a huge help when training new staff, it is user friendly and easy for them to pick up. I also really value that the team is open to feedback. They are always receptive to suggestions and proactive about making updates that improve the programs efficiency.

Cons

We dont have many complaints but one tricky issue is scheduling across time zones. If someone creates an appointment in one time zone, it can show up at the wrong time for someone in another zone which causes confusion.

“Great seamless Outlook integration

Pros

Smokeball user experience is great, the Outlook integration is seamless and the ability to convert documents from Word or image files to PDF is invaluable. Also the calendar is slick and easy to use. Moreover the tech support has always been quick and knowledgeable.

Cons

The search function is not as easy to use as it used to be. Before I could type something like smith rodeo to find the Smith sale on Rodeo Blvd, but now I cannot. That's my biggest gripe. Also the emails in the emails tab do not automatically sort by date and I cannot set that as the default like I can in the matter tab.

“Remarkable integration and workflow features

Pros

I love almost everything about it. I honestly dont know how we managed to practice law without Smokeball. The integration with InfoTrack for court e-filing and the workflow features are especially remarkable. Their customer service is wonderful too and they are very receptive to ideas and suggestions from their users.

Cons

To be honest I am not sure what I dislike. We have been using it for nearly a decade and I still like everything about it.

“perfect for document merging

Pros

It is great for keeping me organized. I love that I can save email attachments directly into the client file and how it simplifies emailing. The most impressive feature to me is its ability to merge documents into a single PDF and automatically generate a table of contents.

Cons

The billing module is generally pretty tough to navigate. Also I don't like the way it handles posting payments and I wish I had a simpler way to add them in.