Smokeball Social

Happy Wednesday, Smokeball Community! My name is Huma, and I am Smokeball’s newest Community Manager. I have been a lawyer licensed in the state of Illinois, practicing in both federal and state courts, since 2012. Most of that time was spent as a criminal defense attorney, followed up by federal and state clemency practice and advocacy as well as international diplomacy.  Smokeball is near and dear to my heart. As a former client, it saved me many hours and much stress in my past life as a litigator. I am excited to join the Community you all have built here and I hope to bring more value, laughter, learning, and whimsy to Smokeball’s backbone: you, our firms and legal practitioners.  The conversations you all have been leading show a cadre of diverse lawyers and practice groups interested in learning and sharing more about their practice areas, expanding their network with like-minded colleagues and firms, and helping Smokeball continue to be an innovative and responsive force that l

This is a post to discuss AI Billing to continue conversation begun in the Zoom Meeting. Below is the language we use in our Illinois family law contracts:We use document automation with templates as well as AI legal research, review, and writing products. These items assist us in the performance of our legal work, but they are not a substitute for our professional judgment. We may charge you legal fees for work products generated using these technologies on a minimum value billing basis as contained in the list below. The listed rates establish a minimum value billing which Attorney will charge for each item described. In other words, you will be charged the stated minimum value of the work even if actual Attorney time spent is less than that amount. If the Attorney spends more time on an item than the minimum, then the Attorney may charge for that time. For drafting documents, the minimum stated is for the initial drafting of the document and does not include such items as informatio

We have a small Oklahoma based law firm (4 attorneys) looking for a billing clerk who can work remotely to assist with billing. If interested, please contact us sfulkerson@fulkersonlawoffice.com

in this month Oklahoma Bar magazine there is a full page add for smokeball.  Anyone in Oklahoma using Smokeball would like to form a group to utilize all of the many tools of smokeball.James V Murrayjvmlaw.com

Has anyone succeeded in getting customer support to consistently email instead of hit and run phone calls or vice versa? I’ve tried to ask them to email in my support requests, and to generally respond via email, but it seems like often they instead decide to just call, leave a voicemail (sometimes), and then claim later they tried to reach me and they close the ticket. I’m finding that very little is getting resolved quickly, and what does get resolved sometimes takes awhile. A few requests do get handled quickly. I’m wondering if anyone has figured out the best way to get good support, or if its a lost cause.

I am looking for a family law attorney in Reno, Nevada to help a recently engaged (older) couple navigate through the issues concerning a pre-nuptial agreement as well as updating their respective estate plans.  If you can help or have a name of a possible referral that I can pass on to them, I’d appreciate it!

Hello all. I run a small legal practice in Wetherill Park NSW. I have decided that it is time for me to perhaps start winding down, and take it easy. I would like to talk with any lawyer interested in coming in with me and being their own boss. The office is quite good, there are two offices actually, fully furnished and basically no liabilities. The rent is very attractive as well. If any one feels like they would like to venture out and start on their own this may be a good opportunity. If this is of any interest, or would like to know more please drop me a line.

We are new to SB and are having an issue with having to HEAVILY edit our invoices every month bc of all the entries… especially re emails.   How do other firms cut down on the pages and pages of invoices? Or, do you send out pages and pages?  

A little over two years ago, we launched this space. Now, with thousands of members, tens of thousands searching here for answers, and our major community milestones achieved, the time is right for me to embark on my next adventures.You've been exceptional – supportive, insightful, and remarkably civil. In a decade of community building, you're the first group where I haven't had to swing the ban hammer 😅. Instead, it's been a genuine pleasure to connect with and support you all. I will truly miss our interactions.Rest assured, I'm not leaving you alone. Our team remains dedicated to your success. Our Moderators and Product Team are here every day, checking in, solving problems, and ensuring we keep your needs at the forefront as we continue to build Smokeball. Your feedback is invaluable, so keep it coming. Never hesitate to ask a question – we love to help!As for me, I'm off to chase the founder's rush again (and chase my toddlers a bit more).Thank you for making this journey memora

Hi AllThe new fix/change for processing disbursements with respect to GST has been a game changer.

A while ago, we introduced our smart intake forms. I am, of course, very biased, but I do think they make it a lot easier to connect with potential clients, aka leads.Even the best intake tools aren't helpful if leads aren't discovering and filling them out. I want to start a discussion to see if this is a problem you're facing. Together, we can find some solutions!Are you getting the leads and clients you hoped for? Are there roadblocks to getting these forms in front of the right people?Share your experiences in the replies below. Please also share the areas of law you practice in, as different fields have different needs.

Each week I jump on calls with our members to make sure we’re covering the right things in the Smokeball Community. Recently, folks in the Personal Injury and Criminal sectors have shared examples of judges and magistrates using AI for legal research and decision-making.Opinions on this are mixed. For me it was a reminder of the impact of the COMPAS tool, which showed biases, misjudging Black defendants as higher risk and White defendants as lower risk.Even the Supreme Court has explored the risks and mitigation of AI in their Year-End Report. But what's your take?Have you seen this in your work with the courts?Where should we draw the line with AI in our justice system?Looking forward to your thoughts! 

Bowman & Knox Personal Injury are urgently seeking a full-time legal assistant with experience in personal injury law. The position is predominantly working from home, with some office attendance required potentially in the northern suburbs. Experience with Smokeball preferred. Please send your resume to: personalinjury@bowmanknox.com.au

The more of our members I talk to, the more I hear that AI is transforming the legal industry. Some of us are excited, some of us are planning to retire before it really changes things. However, everyone I’ve heard from so far is using AI in one way or another.I’m curious: Where are the gaps? From contract analysis to legal research, where is AI falling short?Share your opinion with a vote, a comment, or both. I look forward to hearing from you!

It's not just what AI can do; it's how you ask it to do it.The potential of AI in law largely depends on the prompts we use. The right questions can elevate AI from a helpful tool to an indispensable ally. I'm curious about your journey with “prompt engineering”- the art of writing the perfect prompt.  Have you discovered a method that works like magic? Or are you still searching for the spell book?I’d love to know how you’re going with prompting AI tools. From professional to personal, this is a space to share your successes, failures and questions. Just click “Reply” below and share your favorite prompts or biggest questions. You can also vote in the Poll below to discover how many of us here are at the same stage as you when it comes to AI prompting. I’m looking forward to the conversation :)  

Our northern Virginia-based boutique law firm is seeking to fill an open billing manager position with an experienced professional, ideally with exposure to Smokeball.  We are a 12-attorney firm that practices communications & technology law.  If you know of anyone in the market, please contact me:  jsm@commlawgroup.com. Job Description: Law Firm Billing ManagerSalary Range:  $85,000-$100,000Position OverviewThe Billing Manager will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of billing operations within our law firm. This includes the preparation, review, amendment, and issuance of client invoices, as well as managing the collections process in collaboration with supporting staff. The Billing Manager will ensure that billing activities are conducted efficiently, accurately, and in compliance with the firm’s policies and client agreements. Proficiency with Smokeball billing software is essential for this role.Key ResponsibilitiesInvoice Management: Generate accurate and timely client

We just migrated to Smokeball and I wanted to introduce myself.  Looking forward to being a part of the group. Terry (TBrown)

Many of you are part of firms or initiatives that I know contribute significantly to our communities. However, these impactful efforts often remain unsung. Let's change that.Spotlight the initiatives you’re a part of here so we can all help to spread awareness, celebrate, and share options for others who wish to get involved.Whether you're with a firm or an individual championing a low-bono, pro-bono, or social cause, this is your opportunity to share. By doing so, you not only shine a light on your work but also inspire others to join or support you.Here are two questions to kick-start our conversation:What social cause do you contribute your legal skills to, and why is it important to you? How can others get involved or support your cause?Let's share, celebrate, and grow our community impact together! 

Hello. We are based in South Australia and looking for a bookkeeper familiar with the local trust accounting requirements and smokeball and Xero. If anyone has a recommendation we would be very grateful. Happy to work with them remotely if they know the local requirements.