Smokeball Ranks No. 9 in Crain’s 2022 Best Places to Work

This isn’t the first time Smokeball has appeared on Crain’s Chicago Business 100 Best Places to Work — we hit the list in 2019, 2020 and 2021. But in 2022, we cracked the Top 10 for the first time.

Smokeball is thrilled to be named No. 9 on Crain’s list, which includes workplaces across the Chicagoland region. Yes, we build legal software and help our clients run more productive, profitable law firms. We’re also focused on community — including our own internal work community. That’s why awards like this mean so much to every one of us.

“This is truly a reflection of the culture we have built and each and every one of you uphold every day,” Ruchie Chadha, Smokeball president, told the company in her announcement of the win.

According to Crain’s, determining the “Best Places to Work in Chicago” involves a two-step process with its partner, Best Companies Group (BCG), an independent workplace excellence research firm. Part one consisted of an employer questionnaire, used to collect information about benefits, policies, practices and other general information. Part two was a confidential 77-question employee survey used to evaluate local employees’ workplace experience and culture. This part was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation.

The final result combines an objective outside perspective and an internal perspective — but employee sentiment carries the most weight. That’s why we’re especially proud of our high ranking: Smokeball’s own employees think of our jobs and our workplace as one of the best. In the past two years, Smokeball pivoted to a majority-hybrid/remote company; today, our employees work all over the country. We’re deeply focused on our strong culture in this environment through initiatives like our DEI council, mental health “reset” days and our annual Homecoming week.

Smokeball is the best legal software on the market — and we’re among the best workplaces in Chicago.

About Crain’s Chicago Business
Crain’s Chicago Business is the top source of news, analysis and information on business in metropolitan Chicago for decision-makers in the private and public sectors. Crain’s publishes a weekly business magazine, providing deeper analysis, commentary, special reports and features. Crain’s also produces databases, live events and sponsored content, all with the aim of deepening readers’ understanding of local business. Crain’s Chicago Business is the leading source of information on Chicago’s economy, the companies, industries and institutions that operate here and the entrepreneurs and innovators who drive the city’s growth.  

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