Attorney Jim Pratt is a solo criminal defense attorney. To successfully operate his practice with no other staff, Jim needs to be organized, efficient, and mobile. He transformed Pratt Law into a paperless law office by streamlining his processes with Smokeball. Now Jim spends his time advocating for his clients rather than worrying about case management.
A paper pile-up
For most of Jim’s career, he worked for firms where staff managed his filing. After establishing his own practice, he hated relying on paper. “I wouldn’t know exactly what I needed in court, and inevitably something would be left out of the file I took,” remembers Jim. Additionally, working from paper meant manual and slow processes—plus extra storage. Jim sought paperless law office software that would streamline his processes, organize his cases, and help him be more mobile.
Intuitive legal software by lawyers for lawyers
After several months of research, Jim selected Smokeball for its user-friendly layout, ability to eliminate physical files, and the exceptional customer service. “Smokeball staff are excellent. From ensuring I got up and running properly to incorporating some of my feature suggestions into the product, everyone I work with is great,” he says. Smokeball stood out against other legal software Jim vetted because of its:
- All-in-one layout tailored to Jim’s practice and file structure conventions
- Automatic time tracking to capture previously unbilled time
- Seamless Microsoft Office and RingCentral integrations that increase efficiency
- Intuitive feature set built by lawyers for lawyers
The integrated software gives Jim a high-level view across his entire case load, which he can drill into quickly to find associated emails, invoices, and any other matter details. He also loves that Smokeball is tailored to his firm’s needs. For example, there’s no dictated file structure; Jim determines how to organize his documents and folders so it works for him. “Smokeball really has been a lifesaver,” says Jim.
Saving time while increasing revenue
With no support staff, Jim relies on Smokeball's range of time-saving features. For instance, Print to Smokeball PDF allows him to save any external file or webpage to a Smokeball matter in seconds, ensuring downloads never get lost or forgotten. The robust Outlook and Word integrations let Jim save any email to a Smokeball matter in a click—and document management is just as easy. He also uses the RingCentral integration, which seamlessly records and summarizes every client phone call.
But the real time savings come from Smokeball’s automatic time tracking, which eliminates manual time recording. Previously, Jim would forget to bill for emails and phone calls—small chunks of time that added up to significant missed billing opportunities. “It was a lot of emails and phone calls I was missing out on.” Jim continues, “Smokeball’s automatic time tracking is a huge help.”
With these features, Jim works faster and more accurately while capturing his billable time automatically.
A paperless powerhouse
While several features make Jim’s daily practice easier, it’s ultimately Smokeball’s cloud-based convenience and the resulting peace of mind that he loves. With just his tablet, Jim can work from home or on vacation. “Everything is on my Surface Pro, which goes in my briefcase. I don't have to worry about where I am or having the right document. It's all there with Smokeball,” says Jim.
By eliminating the need for paper files, improving organization, and helping save Jim’s limited time, Smokeball has transformed Pratt Law into a paperless powerhouse.
"Smokeball staff are excellent. From ensuring I got up and running properly to incorporating some of my feature suggestions into the product, everyone I work with is great."
5
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Get regular updates, webinar invites and helpful content, delivered directly to your inbox!