Avis clients sur Smokeball

SmallLaw Review

Commentaires : Overall, an excellent software and definitely worth considering for your law firm, especially if you handle real estate transactions.

Avantages :

1. Smokeball is an "everything" platform. We realized we were only using the other softwares for billing/invoicing, but found little use for them otherwise. Smokeball, on the other hand, is much more versatile. We track our to-dos there, create workflows, assign tasks/projects to others at the firm (it avoids the back-and-forth internal emails), share our draft documents with client through a secure portal, and much more! 2. If you are a real estate transactions law firm (as we are), Smokeball is the only platform specifically designed for that practice area. We love that it automatically calendars deadlines, has templates built in, and otherwise automates much of the closing process for us (and avoids costly mistakes such as missing a deadline).

Inconvénients :

1. Cost (yup, it's one of the more expensive options you'll find out there). But when evaluating options, the thought process should be whether you will save some time by implementing the features of the software. And if so, a few extra bucks monthly is well worth it. 2. A little glitchy at times. We sometimes would create an invoice but would not be able to load it or send to a client until the next day. I have no idea why this happens, though it hasnt been a big issue for us. 3. Requires you to invest a lot of time to set up to automate your documents and learn how to modify them as you go. But, again, it is time well spent.

Small Elder Law Practice

Commentaires : More efficient, able to handle more business in less time.

Avantages :

It took a while, but once I understood how things work it made it easy to manage my client workload. Before I would lose track of matters where the client should have gotten back to me and didn't. Now with tasks it is easy to keep track. Also like the billing options and the automation. I am much more efficient than before.

Inconvénients :

Still getting used to billing hourly. I like that it tracks my time, but the entries are not good for billing as difficult for a client to understand. Also wish I could have converted Time Matters client to Smokeball easily. It would have been expensive so I running two databases.

Disingenuous Company. Dead End Product. Stay Away

Commentaires : I said I wanted API access. They said, "what's an API?" I sent them a link to their website showing where they provide API access to developers. They refused. This became an issue because they will not provide your client and matter data in a useful format. It's a lawyer-run company. The support staff is legalistic and misleading. I would not do business with them again. I don't think "they'll make it right" if you have an issue. I know I sound like a crank. But I feel pretty badly treated by them and in 2023 the lack of an open API is insane. Now that I have my data out of their system, I am no longer hostage to their garbage. If I had read a review like this during my evaluation, I hope that I would have hesitated and made a different choice.

Avantages :

The software has a point of view. Its ideal user is a middle-aged tech-phobic lawyer that needs most decisions made for him.For that reason, the software makes a lot of choices for you. And mostly they are fine choices if you want a desktop-based app and a forms-heavy practice.They oversell their integration with MS Word and Outlook. Their custom add-ins are slow to load and unimpressive.If you truly want to play in the MS Dataverse, which I think is a smart long-term play, then use a product that integrates with Sharepoint and Teams. Also, the app is a POS.

Inconvénients :

This software is a technical dead end. They will never have an open API and integrate with the web. But if you ask for it, they "will submit a feature request" despite the fact they actually have an API that developers can use.They will not help you export your data. They provide you with your files in an unstructured mess of separate .csv files and client folders.They answer the customer service number 1 out of 5 calls. They shuttle you to email, where the support doesn't read the emails you send.Their document automation team screwed up my documents. I sent templates in Georgia 11 and got back documents with a mixture of Times New Roman 12 and Georgia. I sent over documents with tables for signature blocks and got back documents where the signature block was done with an underline and space bar.

Smokeball user review

Avantages :

Product layout, user training, user support, and migration support from a prior product are all great. Feature-rich. Provide a workflow for tasks and has stage control for matters.

Inconvénients :

I would like to be able to color code entries on the calendar. The workflow is easy to use but you cannot put tasks on the calendar as an event; they only go on as a task. I'm not great at using tasks that pop up for a given day. I would prefer that they could populate the calendar with a date and time.

Satisfied customer

Commentaires : I enjoy Smokeball and recently looked into Mycase. Do not consider Mycase. I was informed by Mycase that the integration process would be easy and would take 5-10 days. Those were lies. I have 4+ years in Smokeball with over 1000 files.

Avantages :

I am able to pull up any document while in court along with access to my client. I am able to conduct a conflict check within minutes.

Inconvénients :

The billing program requires me to exit out and enter another program. Least favorite part of Smokeball.

Smokeball Review

Commentaires : I have enjoyed using smokeball and it has made real estate law a lot smoother.

Avantages :

I like being able to access all my files on one platform that can be shared with my team

Inconvénients :

The integration without look sometimes freezes and I have been having issues with outlook. It would be nice if there was an integration with Gmail.

Invest in this software!!

Commentaires : Smokeball is our on stop shop for case management... it is so organized and helps us streamline our case management. I love using it to broadly track a case as well as using it to get into more intricate details such as medical provider logs or insurance company information.

Avantages :

Smokeball makes our case management so efficient and effective through its many integrations (Docusign, Microsoft Word, YoCierge etc.)! It is easy to keep organized while tracking all of the case notes help us be as thorough as possible when working in the files.

Inconvénients :

I am eagerly waiting for an intake feature to be added to Smokeball. Otherwise, I do not have any complaints aside from typical software issues, but I understand that SB is in beta and always being improved.

Bill Chatt from Cervantes Chatt & Prince

Commentaires : Been great. Feature suggestions have made it into the program through updates and we’ve had a lot of sessions between our office and SB to talk about suggestions-they definitely listen to their clients

Avantages :

Hard to say what one thing makes me like it. It was definitely the first program where we got all users using it and getting the most from it. Personally, the document merging and generating is about the best I’ve encountered.

Inconvénients :

Having to go through the interrelation from the old software to SB but that’s part of the process

Family Law Firm Running Smoothly Wish Smokeball!

Commentaires : Overall, we have seen great benefits of using Smokeball to manager our clients, their expectations, and are excited to see what other features are available.

Avantages :

Our staff greatly appreciates the streamlined dashboards and case management functions of Smoke ball. We use it daily to organize our case matters throughout the week and provide critical information to our clients and staff.

Inconvénients :

If we could get settings that restrict some of the activity information to the entire staff, it would be helpful for staff interactions.

Seems great

Commentaires : Everyone seems very nice and helpful.

Avantages :

Haven’t used it yet. Looking forward to trying it.

Inconvénients :

Price price The only way I would waste my time on this is because you are paying me

Great CRM for Law Firms

Avantages :

Smokeball is very helpful in streamlining processes and increasing efficiency. You can assign tasks to users and auto populate a procedure with deadlines and assignments. Very useful.

Inconvénients :

There are still some bugs with the reporting feature of the software but the developers and support are easily accessible to assist and they are working on updates and fixes.

Excellent product!

Commentaires : Implementation was super smooth and the support people are so responsive and helpful. It's amazing!

Avantages :

Smokeball is great because of it's auto document generation, billing integration, calendaring and tasking system, calendar integration, email integration, document version tracking, and work flow set ups.

Inconvénients :

The cost is high but that's really to be expected with how much you are getting out of this software.

GREAT product with ease of use!!

Commentaires : Overall, it's been great! Such an easy program to use and very thorough!

Avantages :

The ease of use is awesome! Document automation is also great!! It's easy to track nearly everything. In essence, it does the job and more!

Inconvénients :

It's difficult to switch from Plaintiff to Defendant if you open a case the wrong way, especially if you already have a lot of information in the case.

Financing Scam

Commentaires : They appear to have changed their business model from one that provides software to once that makes money off "lending money." The first account managers were amazing. Once we transferred all of our stuff and got used to the software. They started asking us for 3-5 year contracts paid up front with personal guarantors under the guise of them having to finance the contract. In other words even if you stop using their service you will personally have to still keep paying. They appear to have changed their business model from one that provides software to once that makes money off "lending money." Beware. I would stay away especially if you are a small firm.

Avantages :

User interface, Ease of Use, Accessibility

Inconvénients :

Customer support is lacking. Incompatible with VPN and other security software. They seem unconcerned about security issues that result. Fixing invoices is problematic.

More effective and productive work environment

Commentaires : The benefits of this program have overall created a more effective and productive work environment. The ability to create workflows and stages is very helpful and is used almost everyday. Missing deadlines while using this program are hard to come by.

Avantages :

The feature of being able to link Microsoft office with this program has assisted me greatly in the sense that it has minimized the process of completing tasks, preparing documents and emailing with clients. My favorite feature about this software is the ability to link client emails to the file it pertains to within Smokeball. This feature has minimized searching for Emails through my entire Email inbox, and additionally it has helped the firm cut costs on supplies, as we are not printing Emails for the paper file.

Inconvénients :

My least favorite feature about this software is the billing portion. My Office manager has had a less than great time attempting to transition to this software from Amicus, of which was the main software at the firm for 20 plus years. With that being said, the customer service help desk has been very helpful and working with this firm to create what we need.

Associate Attorney

Commentaires : Just about the time we got Smokeball we reduced our secretarial staff, so I was forced to prepare most of my own pleadings. Smokeball has made it possible for me to do so. I am always anxious to find out more about what Smokeball can do as, I suspect that I am only using a portion of the total functions available.

Avantages :

I like the fact that you can click on a file and easily find the document you are looking for; that it tracks your time and can easily be entered into Smokeball billing; that you can find documents by doing a search; that there is assess to the court forms of other jurisdictions and when opened, they are populated with the information in the file; that I am reminded daily about the tasks that I entered; I also like the communicate function which I just found.

Inconvénients :

I wish that I could print the memos that I prepare (although I found that I can send them through communicate); I wish there was more training with the pi functions (although I may have missed them); also I wish that I could print the task pages because I often make lists in the "Detail" box.

Smokeball is Desparate for your money

Commentaires : Our firm has used Smokeball legal software since 2016. We have had 2 licenses which we paid for monthly/yearly. [SENSITIVE CONTENT HIDDEN] in our firm, passed away unexpectedly in December, 2019 at age 64. Our open cases were referred to outside counsel. The practice was closed on March 31, 2020. I have been working with Smokeball in a round-about way since the beginning of March. Smokeball refuses to refund the unused portion of our license renewal which is approximately 1 year, over $2,000. No one is using the Smokeball licenses and they have not been used for 3 months. User beware. I feel this is a scam. This could happen to you!

Avantages :

The best feature is being able to e-file directly from the matter.

Inconvénients :

Customer service passes you from one person to another. No one can answer your questions. Terrible customer service. When I asked to have our files backed up to close the account, 92 files did not come over.

I don't know how you practice in a small firm without this product!

Commentaires : I truly don't know how any small firm practices without Smokeball. I purchased Smokeball for the email tacking capabilities, but pay for because I capture ever minute of my time on a time. Just one hour covers the monthly cost. I can barely return emails outside the system because I am so addicted to the cloud based tracking of all file activities. I can securely transfer large files, encrypt messages, and automate every day forms. i think I am NY's biggest fan of this small office management software! I don't even use all of its functions.

Avantages :

I can multitask so easily by opening multiple matters at a time-- can handle 50% more files and matters because of this product. They finally upgraded their iphone App-- now truly portable!

Inconvénients :

I am not trying to be contrite, but there are very few "least" likes about this product. Some of my clients hae problems utilizing their encryption tools called "communicate" because it requires google Chrome, but most figure it out-- I would use it more if it worked more seemlessly.

My Smokeball Experience

Commentaires : Simplicity of creating documents, ease of tracking deadlines with reminders

Avantages :

Several features: Self populating documents, ability to download any document to my, responsive customer service.

Inconvénients :

Sometimes WORD interferes with the software.

Makes work easier

Commentaires : Overall, my experience has been good. I would highly recommend this system to any office. It really does help keep files and documents organized and is easy to use.

Avantages :

This is a great system. It's easy to use and has a lot of useful features. What I really like is once you have entered a contact for one matter, it's in the system and you don't have to re-enter the same information again. Merging several documents into one large document is made simple too. Also, editing PDF documents is super easy.

Inconvénients :

Getting started with this system can be time consuming. Having to enter in all the information from each case took a long time.

Real Estate Review

Commentaires : I have never had a software program like this, it is invaluable and I hope whereever I go in law, they have it.

Avantages :

The features in real estate are extremely helpful. The searching feature in the tab bar in the matter saves me every time. When I am on the phone with a client, I can look up information as they are asking me for it. It makes our office act compteley and fast. The formatting for letters or orders that I have made for ordering title, well and septic or addendums, etc. is truly amazing. In 2 seconds I can have an order out or an email sent with attachments.

Inconvénients :

Sometimes smokeball will glitch up with Word or take a while to respond but it's only a few seconds; I am spoiled with how fast smokeball is.

Best Law Office Software I've Ever Used

Commentaires : Smokeball helped me switch from a clunky, analog filing system (literally consisting of a few cabinets and the majority of free space on my desks) to a smooth, efficient and effective all-in-one application that satisfied my criteria for filing, communication, a calendar, and so much more.

Avantages :

The product is extremely intuitive and easy to master. The software is continually being updated with new features and perks. The help team is responsive and understanding. All around a top-tier application.

Inconvénients :

The only downsides to this software are small, personal nitpicks I have found with certain functions, such as scanning a document or converting a file to a pdf. However, 9/10 times, these issues have been fixed in the next update or the support team was able to help me resolve my problem quickly and painlessly.

Smokeball

Avantages :

We went from no firmware to using Smokeball. It has been a godsend. After the initial learning curve, the program is very easy to use and has dramatically streamlined our practice.

Inconvénients :

The billing feature seems cumbersome. I haven't really had time to get to know it.

Excellent billing software built in!

Avantages :

The billing features are what I like most as the the firm admin. It is extremely user friendly and helps me to stay on top of our accounts receivable

Inconvénients :

Document automation is a little clunky, so my team shares with me.

Hands Down Best Practice Management Software

Commentaires : I have used Smokeball for 3 years. In that time it has been improved and expanded at least every 6 months. I do not think I could ever go back to practicing without it! It has saved hundreds of hours of time.

Avantages :

The document automation, e-filing from your cloud-based matter, and customer support.

Inconvénients :

I wish that there was an option to integrate with other e-filing providers, as many clients do not wish to pay a per filing fee every time something is filed on their case. It is great to e-file from Smokeball, but not all clients have the extra money to pay for the attorney's convenience.