Smokeball Reviews

“powerful, all in one platform

Pros

It is surprising that Smokeball is not mentioned more often among legal case management platforms. I have used several others and none come close to being as robust. It is a full document management and storage system on top of case management which lets you do so much more and faster. The Outlook integration is great too as tagging an email to a specific matter is much quicker than it was in Clio. Though I still wish you could tag multiple emails to one matter in a single batch action as that would be a huge help in some situations. But the timekeeping function alone is probably worth the price if your practice needs it. It captures so much more time than you would manually and saves a ton of effort, providing a much more reliable record than trying to reconstruct your day later. The internal communication portal is also extremely useful and easy to use. We are on it all day. The task function and its integration with the Outlook calendar are great too. Overall I do not know of a platform as powerful as Smokeball, even though there is always room for improvement as with any software.

Cons

We still need a separate Dropbox folder for documents that have to be downloaded from another source before we can import them into it. They have improved things with a PDF to Smokeball print option, but other sources like scanning software, still require saving files to my computer or Dropbox first. So it is an extra step. And though the ability to e-file directly from software is great but you have to add exhibits separately in a different step. My biggest workflow issue is that you cannot work in two parts of the same case at once. For example, if I am entering a counsel's address, I cannot open another tab in that same matter to find an email from them. I have to close the first window, open a new one to get the info, then reopen the first window to finish. It is very clunky. Also because files are cloud-based, opening a large file like a video requires a full download first which can take time. And while that's happening, you are locked out of opening anything else in that matter or possibly from eberything. If you try to open several large files at once, it grinds to a halt until you cancel the downloads. For immediate access, it is best to keep large files on your local hard drive. Finally the memo function is extremely awkward compared to Clio's which was much cleaner. And you cannot collaborate with another Smokeball firm unless you both have the same license type.

“easy to use anywhere, anytime!!

Pros

Smokeball is so easy to use. I also love that you have a mobile app so I can access everything no matter where I am or what time it is.

Cons

It's been great for the last four years and I do not have any complaints at the moment.

“Incredibly easy and efficient navigation

Pros

I absolutely love using it to manage and organize client files. Navigating the platform is incredibly easy which makes my daily work so much more efficient. Plus the saved templates are a lifesaver for document creation and the auto-generation feature saves me a ton of time. It is also fantastic how easily I can look back at email exchanges within each case making it simple to track communication and stay on top of everything.

Cons

My overall experience with it has been really positive and nothing has stood out as a negative. The platform is good and works well for what I need.

“The best software for real estate law

Pros

Simply put, this is the best legal software out there for a real estate attorney. It tracks all my deadlines, fees and billing and even drafts closing statements and it makes it easier for me and my staff to stay on top of our files and communicate with clients. Their new intake forms have also been a game-changer for our estate planning practice. Yes it is pricey but for our firm, it is worth every penny.

Cons

The cost is my main issue. They raise the price every year and now it is becoming excessively expensive.

“Very user friendly and easy

Pros

It is very user-friendly and easy to use.

Cons

Sometimes different users save duplicate documents in the same matter. I wish there was an alert to let you know if a document has already been saved to the file.

“Simply love it!

Pros

I love the cloud-based system that makes setting up and organizing new matters so simple.

Cons

The reporting function can be slow and sometimes times out completely.

“Efficient and user friendly design

Pros

The efficiency, user-friendly design and software updates that keep everything running smoothly makes it the best.

Cons

I'd love to have an option to stop the system from letting users create multiple contacts for the same person.

“Made our firm completely paperless

Pros

Smokeball has made work and file organization a simple task. Our firm has been able to go paperless because every document can be produced, created, e-filed and shared through the platform. And they are always offering webinars to help with new features, constantly teaching us and helping the software grow.

Cons

I'd love to be able to remove fields we don't need for our defense work. For example, we don't need the Discovery Details section in our Matter Type

“User friendly for any skill level

Pros

The user-friendly interface makes managing cases and documents simple, even for less tech-savvy people. Automating routine tasks like document creation, calendaring and billing saves time and reduces mistakes. My favorite part is being able to securely access case files and documents from anywhere, which is great for flexibility and remote work.

Cons

While the interface is user-friendly, the sheer number of features means it takes some time and training to master everything.

“offers so many unique organizing features

Pros

This tool has so many unique features that help keep our firm organized. We can put all our information in one central spot and find it again incredibly easily.

Cons

The syncing between accounts is not always perfect. Even after closing and reopening a matter, we sometimes still cannot see a document another user has uploaded.

“Amazing sync with Word and Outlook

Pros

The way it syncs with Microsoft Word and Outlook is just amazing.

Cons

It took a while to learn how to use the software properly but the effort was definitely worth it in the end.

“using it for years and pretty happy with the program

Pros

Our office has relied on Smokeball for years. It's been a fantastic program for bringing all our files together in one place and managing them. The software is simple to use and handles a huge range of tasks. Also it is the only program we need for file and case management and it makes uploading and exporting files to other platforms during transactions a simple task.

Cons

There is not a single thing I would change about it. It is easy to use and has all the functions our office needs.

“Easy to use with great training

Pros

It is so easy to use, the training is very accessible and both the sales and training teams are incredibly friendly and helpful.

Cons

Some simple fixes do not get addressed but we have found ways to work around those minor issues.

“Great for organization and templates

Pros

Smokeball keeps us organized, lets us create documents and letters from templates and helps us keep track of our calendars.

Cons

Creating specific reports like a list of new lawsuits filed is not easy. I also cannot reuse a document from an old matter for a new one or switch matters to save a new version like I used to. My biggest issue is that workflow dates don't sync to the calendar. I have to manually transfer dates from our trial preparation workflows into the events calendar which is a repetitive and unnecessary step.

“allows better organization & collaboration

Pros

The main benefits of using it are better organization, a big boost in efficiency and much smoother collaboration.

Cons

One major downside are occasional challenges with customizing templates and a noticeable learning curve for people who are new to the software.

“Made all my tasks more efficient

Pros

It has made all my everyday tasks more efficient. Everything from preparing forms to sending out correspondence has become easier.

Cons

This might not be software's fault but I really wish the integration and functionality between Adobe and Smokeball were better.

“Great task and email management

Pros

The task management is great and so is the smooth integration with email and documents.

Cons

I don't have any dislikes. Having used Clio and various title company programs, I find it offers the most fluent data and file management available.

“Helpful for tracking all cases

Pros

It is a really helpful tool for tracking my cases and organizing my daily workflow.

Cons

Nothing bad to say about it. Even when there are app issues, the customer service team is really fast and efficient at resolving them.

“Incredibly easy to use everything

Pros

I love absolutely everything about it. It is incredibly easy to use!

Cons

The price is a little high but I have become so reliant on it that I would not be able to work without it now.

“An amazing and advanced setup

Pros

The entire setup is amazing, finding documents is simple and it is the most advanced software I have used!

Cons

We cannot customize it as much as some of the other programs out there.