Smokeball Review

Category: Legal Practice Automation Founded: 2011 Headquarters: Chicago, IL

Smokeball is a comprehensive legal practice automation platform designed specifically for small law firms. With its automatic time tracking and integrated document automation, Smokeball helps attorneys capture more billable hours while streamlining their entire practice workflow.

Overview

Smokeball combines practice management, document automation, and time tracking into one seamless platform. Built by lawyers for lawyers, it focuses on the unique needs of small law firms, offering intuitive tools that don't require extensive training or IT support. The platform's standout feature is its automatic time tracking, which captures every minute spent on client work without manual entry.

Key Features

  • Automatic Time Tracking: Captures time spent on documents, emails, and activities automatically
  • Document Automation: 20,000+ legal forms and templates
  • Matter Management: Organize cases, contacts, and documents in one place
  • Email Management: Automatic filing of Outlook emails to matters
  • Legal Accounting: Trust accounting and billing integration
  • Court Forms Library: State-specific court forms updated regularly
  • Task Automation: Workflow templates for common practice areas
  • Mobile Access: iOS and Android apps for working on the go
Smokeball Interface Smokeball Time Tracking

Use Cases

  • Small law firms looking to increase billable hours
  • Solo practitioners needing all-in-one practice management
  • Family law practices automating routine documents
  • Personal injury firms managing high case volumes
  • Real estate attorneys processing transactions

Pros

  • Industry-leading automatic time tracking
  • Extensive library of legal forms and templates
  • Seamless Outlook integration
  • Intuitive interface designed for small firms
  • Excellent customer support and training
  • Regular updates with new features

Cons

  • Windows-focused (Mac version has fewer features)
  • Limited customization options
  • No native billing module (requires integration)
  • Learning curve for advanced features

Integration Capabilities

Smokeball integrates with key legal and business tools:

  • Microsoft Office Suite (deep Outlook integration)
  • QuickBooks for accounting
  • LawPay for payment processing
  • InfoTrack for court filing
  • Dropbox and OneDrive for cloud storage
  • Zapier for custom workflows

Security & Compliance

Smokeball provides bank-level security for law firms:

  • 256-bit SSL encryption
  • SOC 2 Type II certified
  • Daily automated backups
  • Role-based access controls
  • Two-factor authentication
  • IOLTA compliance for trust accounting

User Reviews

5★
84
4★
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3★
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Michael Chen

Managing Partner • Family Law Practice
★★★★★

"Smokeball's automatic time tracking has been a game-changer for our small firm. We're capturing 30% more billable hours without any extra effort. The document automation saves us hours every week."

Sarah Williams

Solo Practitioner • Personal Injury
★★★★☆

"Great all-in-one solution for solo attorneys. The automatic time tracking alone pays for the subscription. Would love to see better Mac support and more customization options for workflows."

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Smokeball?

Smokeball is a legal practice automation platform designed for small law firms. It combines practice management, document automation, and automatic time tracking to help attorneys run more efficient and profitable practices.

How much does Smokeball cost?

Smokeball pricing starts at $69 per user per month for the Boost plan. The Grow plan is $89/user/month, and the Prosper plan is $179/user/month. All plans include automatic time tracking and document automation.

Does Smokeball work on Mac?

Yes, Smokeball offers a Mac version, though it has fewer features than the Windows version. The core functionality including time tracking and document management is available on Mac, with mobile apps for iOS and Android.

How does automatic time tracking work?

Smokeball automatically tracks time spent on documents, emails, and activities associated with client matters. It runs in the background, capturing billable time without manual timers or entries, ensuring no billable time is lost.