Smokeball
PaidLegal practice management software with automatic time tracking, document management, billing, and workflow automation for small law firms.
What does this tool do?
Smokeball is a specialized legal practice management platform designed specifically for small to mid-sized law firms. It combines case management, time tracking, billing, and document handling into a single cloud-based system. The platform includes AutoTime for automatic time tracking that captures billable hours without manual entry, integrated legal billing with trust accounting capabilities, and a client portal for matter communication. A notable addition is Smokeball AI with Archie, an AI-powered matter assistant that appears designed to automate routine legal tasks. The software offers practice-area-specific implementations (family law, estate planning, personal injury, etc.) rather than generic solutions, suggesting deep domain knowledge of legal workflows.
AI analysis from Feb 23, 2026
Key Features
- AutoTime automatic time tracking that captures billable hours without manual entry
- Integrated legal billing software with trust accounting and IOLTA compliance
- Smart case management with matter-specific workflows and automation
- Client portal for secure communication and document sharing
- Smokeball AI with Archie matter assistant for task automation
- Template library (TemplateLab) for document generation across practice areas
- Email integration and calendaring management
- Electronic signatures and e-filing capabilities
- Reporting and firm insights dashboards
- Intake and onboarding forms with electronic signature support
Use Cases
- 1Solo practitioners managing multiple client matters who need automatic time tracking to capture billable hours without manual timesheets
- 2Family law firms handling intake processes and document generation, leveraging FamilyPro and intake automation features
- 3Estate planning practices using template libraries and workflow automation to standardize document creation across cases
- 4Personal injury law firms managing client communication through portals while tracking case progress via dashboards
- 5Multi-attorney small firms coordinating calendaring, email management, and trust accounting across team members
- 6Law firms handling document-heavy practice areas using the integrated electronic signature and e-filing capabilities
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- AutoTime automatic time tracking eliminates manual timesheet entry, addressing a common pain point in legal billing accuracy and staff compliance
- Purpose-built for law firms with industry-specific features like trust accounting, IOLTA management, and legal billing rather than adapted general software
- Strong practice-area customization with dedicated solutions for 10+ practice types, reducing setup friction for specialized firms
- Integrated ecosystem of tools (billing, case management, intake, portals) reduces need for third-party integrations and context switching
- AI-powered Archie assistant suggests the platform is investing in automation for routine legal work, potentially reducing administrative overhead
Limitations
- Pricing information not publicly displayed on website, requiring sales consultation—lack of transparency limits self-service evaluation
- Positioned as 'for small law firms' which may indicate scalability limitations for growing or larger practices
- Website content doesn't detail offline capabilities or data access during internet outages, a potential concern for firms needing 100% availability
- No mention of industry certifications, compliance documentation, or security audits on the public site, important for practices handling sensitive client data
- Learning curve likely steep given the feature density; firm size requirements suggest it's not designed for solo practitioners with minimal tech resources
Pricing Details
Pricing details not publicly available. Website contains a 'Pricing' link but no actual pricing tiers, per-user costs, or plan comparisons are displayed. Users must book a demo or contact sales to receive quotes.
Who is this for?
Small to mid-sized law firms (2-50 attorneys) with specific practice areas such as family law, estate planning, personal injury, or real estate. Best suited for firms that prioritize automated billing and time tracking, have document-heavy workflows, and want practice-area-specific features rather than generic project management tools adapted for legal use.