Smokeball legal blog
Industry-leading Insights, trends, and expertise for the people practising people-law.
Powering People-Law: a new look for who we’ve always been
Discover what "powering people-law" means, and why it hasn't changed who we are.
Same Smokeball, new look: A letter from Hunter Steele
A personal letter from Smokeball CEO Hunter Steele on our new look.
Best legal case management software for small Australian firms: Features that matter most
Discover the essential features small Australian law firms need in legal practice management software to improve efficiency and profitability.
What is the difference between a general AI assistant and legal AI built for law firms?
Discover what separates general AI like ChatGPT from legal AI built for law firms and why Australian lawyers need purpose-built legal AI for client work
How Smokeball & LawY make legal research fast and simple
Watch our latest demonstration to see how powerful our LawY integration is for your legal research.
How Fountain Law works smarter with Archie AI
Smokeball and Archie have truly given Graham peace of mind to remain on top of his daily workload both as a lawyer and as business owner.
From Actionstep to Smokeball: Why Australian law firms are switching legal software in 2026
Compare Actionstep vs Smokeball legal software. See why law firms choose Smokeball for legal AI, practice management, legal document management and legal billing.
5 reasons why Australian lawyers switch from Clio to Smokeball Legal Practice Management Software
Compare Clio vs Smokeball legal software. See why law firms choose Smokeball for legal AI, practice management, legal document management and legal billing.
The next generation of Archie AI has arrived
Archie now works inside Word, Outlook, and your matters with agentic reasoning that delivers reliable answers you can act on.
.avif)
Legal AI Tools: A Practical Guide for Australian Lawyers in 2026
Discover the six categories of legal AI tools shaping Australian law firms in 2026, with a practical framework to evaluate, implement and use AI with confidence.
5 Essential Features Every Australian Law Firm Needs in Their Practice Management Software
Discover the five features every Australian law firm and lawyers needs in their legal practice management software to stay compliant, efficient and profitable.
Smokeball Recognised as a 2026 Gartner Digital Markets Leader
Smokeball is a 2026 Gartner Digital Markets Leader for legal practice management software used by Australian law firms with legal AI and more features.
What is the difference between a general AI assistant and legal AI built for law firms?
Discover what separates general AI like ChatGPT from legal AI built for law firms and why Australian lawyers need purpose-built legal AI for client work
How Smokeball & LawY make legal research fast and simple
Watch our latest demonstration to see how powerful our LawY integration is for your legal research.
The next generation of Archie AI has arrived
Archie now works inside Word, Outlook, and your matters with agentic reasoning that delivers reliable answers you can act on.
Legal AI Tools: A Practical Guide for Australian Lawyers in 2026
Discover the six categories of legal AI tools shaping Australian law firms in 2026, with a practical framework to evaluate, implement and use AI with confidence.
How to write a strong AI prompt
Master your legal AI with expert tips on writing a strong prompt from Talya Faigenbaum of Nest Legal.
8 Best Legal AI Tools for Lawyers in Australia: Make AI your legal assistant
Legal Assistant AI tools & software in Australia for lawyers and law firms for boost productivity and streamline workflows.
Guide to the court protocols on AI in Australian courts (Updated June 2026)
Learn what is permitted and what is prohibited across jurisdictions.
Say hello to new Archie AI features
Discover Smokeball's new Archie AI features that help lawyers tackle complex, task-specific legal work, faster.
Celebrating one year of Archie AI, our legal AI matter assistant!
A look at how our legal AI assistant has helped transform legal work across the globe after one year.
Master your AI workflows with the Archie AI Prompt Library
Smokeball’s new Archie AI Prompt Library helps law firms save time by allowing them to save, edit, and reuse AI prompts across their team.
Archie AI is Getting a Major Upgrade
Save and reuse prompts, refine client communication, access case details instantly, and more with Archie AI's new updates.
Changing Your Practice Management Software in 2025
Tips to ensure a smooth transition to your new practice management system.
From Actionstep to Smokeball: Why Australian law firms are switching legal software in 2026
Compare Actionstep vs Smokeball legal software. See why law firms choose Smokeball for legal AI, practice management, legal document management and legal billing.
5 reasons why Australian lawyers switch from Clio to Smokeball Legal Practice Management Software
Compare Clio vs Smokeball legal software. See why law firms choose Smokeball for legal AI, practice management, legal document management and legal billing.
5 Essential Features Every Australian Law Firm Needs in Their Practice Management Software
Discover the five features every Australian law firm and lawyers needs in their legal practice management software to stay compliant, efficient and profitable.
AML Compliance: A Guide for Australian Law Firms
Your firm's guide to the upcoming AML compliance reforms to help you prepare with confidence.
.avif)
8 Strategies to Safeguard your Firm During Economic Downturn
Use these 8 strategies to protect your firm and maintain a robust profit regardless of the fluctuating economy.
.avif)
How Legal Technology Can Help Your Firm Grow and Retain Its Client Base
The law firm of the future is one that embraces technology to grow and retain its client base.
.png)
Top 6 Time Management Tips for Busy Lawyers
Improving your time management will enable you to become a more organised, productive and less stressed lawyer. In this blog, we explain how you can master your time management at work.
.png)
How to Ensure Smooth Lawyer-Client Relations from Day 1
Let’s outline the three key areas that lawyers must focus on to effortlessly build strong long-term relationships with their clients.
.png)
3 Ways Automation Tools Boost Your Personal Injury Firm's Success
Let’s look at three steps during each matter where personal injury software automation tools help your firm offer better service.
.png)
5 Ways Legal Technology Boosts Your Client Relationships
Here are five ways legal technology tools boost both the law firm client experience and loyalty.
.png)
8 Easy Steps you can Employ to Keep your Law Firm Clients Happy
Building a book of good law firm clients is essential. Keeping those clients happy and referring others is even more critical. Here are eight easy steps that you can start today.
%2520(1).avif)
How to Boost Your Law Firm Business Development
Smart law firm business development means using what you already know about your practice and clients to generate more success. By narrowing your focus, you increase your chance of success. Here’s how Smokeball can help.
Get paid faster with Smokeball Payments
Create a smoother experience for your clients and a faster, more reliable way to get paid with our new Payments feature.
.png)
Cut out time spent on unbillable administrative work
What can lawyers do to ensure that they’re spending their time on work that both moves their matters forward and contributes to their firm’s bottom line?
Check Financial Cleaning Off Your Firm To-Do List
It’s tough to move forward when your finances are in disarray. That’s why financial cleaning is one of the most important tasks on your law firm to-do list. Let’s get started.
Webinar Recap: Fixed and Value Pricing – Focus on Scoping
Clarissa Rayward recently joined us to continue her fixed fee pricing series, this time with a specific focus on how to scope and how to do it effectively.
Smokeball Product Chat - Legal Billing Innovations
Smokeball CRO Jane Oxley and Global Head of Product Adele Hoyle met virtually to showcase legal software innovations that will simplify the legal billing process.
Why time tracking is vital for running a successful law firm
In this article we address the poisonous seed that grows into a catastrophe for most law firms – uncaptured and unpaid time.
How to Make More Money for your Law Firm
Most small law firm owners would like to make more money and/or work less, of course, but the majority do not know how to accomplish those goals. Data and planning can help immensely, so let’s learn how using KPIs to increase law firm profitability isn’t as hard as you think.
Top 5 Reasons Smokeball Billing is Brilliant
We are proud to introduce our Smokeball Billing expert – Priscilla Lawrence. These are Priscilla's top 5 reasons why Smokeball Billing is brilliant.
Billing what you’re worth: How doubling your revenue is actually a possibility
To tell a law firm that our software can double your revenue sounds like an outlandish marketing claim. So when we started to look at the data and realised that it is not only possible, but it has already happened for many Smokeball clients, we felt uncomfortable shouting it from the rooftops, because it sounds too good to be true.
Tips for Capturing (and Billing) More Time
Capturing and billing more time can take your businesses revenue from mediocre to outstanding. When it comes to tracking time, so many lawyers leave money on the table because they fail to record all the hours they’ve worked.
Smokeball Trust Accounting Now Law Society Approved! The Road to Certification
Just shy of a year ago, we started our journey enhancing Smokeball’s Trust Accounting in preparation for the certification submission with the Law Society of New South Wales.
Automatic Time Tracking + Matter Profitability Tracking: When something that sounds too good to be true is real!
For the past three years, the team at Smokeball has been working on AutoTime. AutoTime is a total revelation for small law firms whether working on time billed or fixed fee (or as is common, a combination of both) as it performs two key functions.
Best legal case management software for small Australian firms: Features that matter most
Discover the essential features small Australian law firms need in legal practice management software to improve efficiency and profitability.
How to improve your firm’s client experience
Improve your firm’s client experience with actionable strategies and set your practice apart from competitors.
How to Use Google My Business for Law Firm Marketing
Improve your law firm marketing with an optimised Google My Business profile to attract local clients and streamline legal client intake.
12 Tips to Transform Your Law Firm in 2025
12 actionable suggestions that you can implement today to help you streamline your workflows, save time, and boost profits.
How to Grow Your Firm: Modern Law Firm Marketing Strategies
Discover how your law firm can cut through the noise and build trust, boost visibility, and drive firm growth.
.png)
Top 4 Tips for Effective Law Firm Referral Marketing
With the right strategy in place, referral marketing can be a great marketing tool that will help you put your law firm on the map without you spending any money on marketers.
.png)
Unlock the Power of Social Media Marketing with Lawyer Thought Leadership
Thought leadership affects brand-building and sales at every stage of a customer’s journey. It not only provides more exposure for yourself and your firm, it also helps to position you as a leader in your industry.
How Fountain Law works smarter with Archie AI
Smokeball and Archie have truly given Graham peace of mind to remain on top of his daily workload both as a lawyer and as business owner.
Law, Community, and Purpose with Tee Legal
Watch the inspiring story of Tendayi Chivunga, Principal Solicitor at Tee Legal, and her commitment to social justice and community impact.
.avif)
Liana Mahoney’s rise to Partner at Taits Legal
Being appointed the first female partner in Taits Legal’s 150-year history is a big achievement, and one that Liana Mahoney is proud to have accomplished.
.avif)
In Conversation with Sarah Ibrahim
Watch commercial and human rights lawyer Sarah Ibrahim's story.
How Archie AI has helped Loukas Law evolve and thrive
Watch our conversation with Maria Loukas, of Perth-based family law firm Loukas Law, on how she uses Archie AI.
Supercharge Your Practice with AI: Empire Legal
Discover how property law firm Empire Legal saved time with Archie AI, our AI matter assistant.
How Bona Fide Law Use Legal Tech for Exceptional Client Service
We interview WA-based Twistie Venning from Bona Fide Law on using legal tech in their firm.
.avif)
On Advancing Racial Justice with Sarah Ibrahim
An insightful interview with Sarah Ibrahim, our 2024 Community Hero Award Winner.
Bring AI productivity to your inbox with the new Smokeball Outlook add‑in
Discover our new add-in, including Archie AI and task creation, and see if now’s the right time for your firm to move from classic to new Outlook.
Smokeball's new AML/CTF Compliance features are now available
Automate AML checks, risk tracking, and compliance reporting directly inside Smokeball.
Introducing the Smokeball and HubSpot Integration for Growing Law Firms
Streamline intake, preserve client context, and reduce admin by connecting HubSpot to your practice management software.
Smokeball announces LawY integration with Archie AI
Our new integration with LawY brings AI-powered legal research to lawyers without having to leave Smokeball.
.avif)
Key changes to family law forms
The Family Law Amendment Act 2024 brings important updates to Australia’s family law system. See our updates in Smokeball in line with these changes.
February Product Update
A summary of all the updates in Smokeball from February.
January Product Updates
A summary of all the updates in Smokeball from January.
December Product Update
Learn more about the new features we released during December.
November Product Updates
Learn more about the new features we released during November.
2024 In Review: Celebrating a Year of Innovation and Productivity
Let's look back on the top 4 features you loved in 2024.
Enhance Your Workflow with New Features
Learn about our exciting new feature releases for Grow and Prosper+.
Enhance Your Practice with Marketplace Precedents: Newly Added Fertility and Surrogacy Law Precedents
If you are a Family, Fertility or Surrogacy Lawyer, we have Precedents available for you in Smokeball
International Women’s Day In-Conversation Series: Connie Lu
Throughout March, we will be shining a light on key women dominating the legal tech space, forging innovation and inspiring change. Next up, we chat with Smokeball’s Lead Software Tester, Connie Lu.
International Women’s Day In-Conversation Series: Fiona Kirkman
Throughout March, we will be shining a light on key women dominating the legal tech space, forging innovation and inspiring change. Next up, we chat with FamilyProperty’s CEO & Co-Founder, Fiona Kirkman.
International Women’s Day In-Conversation Series: Bianca Bowron-Cuthill
Throughout March, we will be shining a light on key women dominating the legal tech space; who are forging innovation and inspiring change. Next up, we chat with Smokeball's General Manager, Bianca Bowron-Cuthill.
.avif)
Smokeball Acquires FamilyProperty Deepening its Commitment to Family Law
We are thrilled to announce that Smokeball has streamlined its end-to-end experience for family law professionals with the acquisition of the industry leading platform FamilyProperty.
.png)
Smokeball Raises $40 Million in Private Funding Round
Legal practice management software company to double down on growth.
.avif)
Smokeball Awarded Best Place to Work 2021
We have always been proud of our company culture here at Smokeball, and today we have another reason to be.
Smokeball Community Star - Amanda Little
We recently spoke with prominent Smokeball Community member Amanda Little to discuss how she manages to balance career and family life, her top tips for running a thriving legal practice, and what inspires her to succeed.
.avif)
Celebrating our Legal Community Heroes
We are thrilled to announce the winners of the first-ever Smokeball Community Hero Award 2021.
Smokeball brings home Australian Business Award for Software Innovation
With just under three years in the Australian market, Smokeball Legal and Conveyancing Software has won an Australian Business Award for Software Innovation.
Smokeball placed in the Top 20 for 2019 Best Places to Work Study
We have always been proud of our culture here at Smokeball, and today we have another reason to be!
Secrets of an Award Winning 'Great Place to Work' Company
We have always been proud of our amazing company culture here at Smokeball, and now we have another reason to be: We've been named #14 Best Place to Work 2020, awarded for the second year running!
Highlights from Spark 2025
Discover the highlights from Spark 2025, Australia’s leading legal conference for lawyers on legal tech, firm growth & practice management.
6 Best Legal Events for Australian Lawyers in 2026
Discover 6 top legal events for lawyers in Australia to earn CPD points, improve law firm marketing growth, learn legal AI, and enhance legal practice management
Why You Should Attend Spark 2025
Discover why Smokeball Spark is one of the biggest events on the legal calendar.
Highlights from Smokeball Spark: Implementing a Roadmap for Growth
Discover an actionable roadmap that you can leverage to achieve success and growth for your law firm
Empowering Family Law Professionals on How to Best Address Family Violence Matters
Discover practical insights that you can implement in professional practice to help your clients who have been impacted by family violence
.avif)
Highlights from Smokeball Spark: Building a Financially Thriving Legal Practice
Discover all the valuable insights from Clayton Oates on building a financially thriving legal practice
.avif)
Highlights from Smokeball Spark: Designing a Seamless Legal Client Experience
Discover all the valuable insights from Paul Hugh-Jones Smokeball Spark session on designing a seamless legal experience.
%2520(1).png)
Takeaways from Smokeball Spark 2023
Inaugural Smokeball Spark Conference for Small Law Firms & Sole Practitioners Hit the Big Topics
%2520(Facebook%2520Ad).avif)
Lighting the Spark for 2023
Smokeball Starts Year Strong with Inaugural Smokeball Spark Conference for Small Law Firms & Sole Practitioners
.avif)
Tradition Still Reigns Supreme in Small Law Work Attraction
Uncover the unique findings from the State of Small Law Australia Survey 2022, highlighting the top methods firms are focusing on to attract new clients.
Setting a Spark Alight
We are beyond excited to launch our inaugural Smokeball Spark Conference for small law firms and sole practitioners.
.png)
2022 State of Small Law Australia Survey: The New Normal Is Here to Stay
New findings from Smokeball's 2022 State of Small Law Study show that Australian firms are back to business as usual, but the 'new normal' is here to stay.
.png)
R U OK? Day Kicks Off Healthy Remote Lawyer Month at Smokeball
This month we will be supporting your life as a Healthy Remote Lawyer, covering topics like stress management, setting healthy client boundaries, and asking for the help you need.
.png)
Webinar Recap: The 5 traits of a Happy Lawyer in Law and in Life
Clarissa Rayward aka 'The Happy Family Lawyer joined us virtually for a wellness webinar to discuss the five key elements lawyers need to successfully manage and build a fulfilling career in law and life outside of it.
.avif)
Will COVID be the catalyst for a more customer-centric legal industry?
As the legal industry continues to grow and evolve, taking a customer-centrist approach is the logical next step for law firms hoping to maintain and expand their business post-COVID and beyond.
.avif)
This Is When Company Culture Shows Its Muscle
Smokeball is busy right now with a lot of communication around best practices for working remotely, and importantly, engaging staff remotely. Because how much can you really get done if your staff aren’t engaged, right?
How Collaboration and Communications Tools Help Firms Work From Anywhere - With Jane Oxley
When we launched our suite of communication and collaboration tools in Smokeball, we worried we were too far ahead of the curve: that small law firms would fail to embrace messaging each other internally, sharing documents with each other, and also messaging their clients and third parties from our software.
Working Remotely: A Practical Guide for Small Law Firms
This guide will cover the technology you’ll need in order to work remotely no matter the technology you’re using. It includes tips on tools to work better together when you’re not in the same office, as well as guidance for where to find help.
.png)
Smokeball's Top Five Tips and Tools for Successful Remote Work
Discover practical tips and tricks, plus innovative legal technology that will enable your law firm to work productively from any location.
Video chat that saves directly to your legal matters
With face-to-face meetings often replaced with video conferencing right now, we wanted to provide Smokeball users with a seamless way to incorporate video into their workflow. In a recent update, we’ve made client and co-worker communication even more effective by integrating it with the most popular video chat application on the market: Zoom.
Maintaining control and accountability over a decentralised office
Once legal businesses are set up to work remotely with communication and practice management software, their next thought should be how to make sure everyone in the firm is remaining productive and accountable.
Maintaining control of tasks and deadlines while working remotely
Legal and conveyancing businesses are sacrificing a lot of control as their employees work from home in light of Covid-19. Lawyers and conveyancers are paradoxically more autonomous in staying on top of their daily tasks while relying more on each other to make sure nothing falls between the cracks.
Guide for Law Firms Working Remote and Working From Home
The advance of wireless and mobile technology was prescient in its hinting at what’s possible for modern workers.
Smokeball and FamilyProperty Present the “State of Family Law Series: Best Practice in Family Violence”
Registrations are now open for the six-part webinar series beginning 31st May.
.jpeg)
Family Lawyers: Make These Updates When a Client’s Child Turns 18
Your role is focused on helping your clients navigate the short-term stresses of these legal arrangements. But engaging in a multi-year relationship means you’ll need to revisit their agreements once a child turns 18.
Family Law Experts Reveal How Effective the New FCFCOA Merger is
The implications of family law professionals and clients working with the newly established Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) were explored at the State of Family Law webinar.
Smokeball Launches Family Mediation Offering for Practitioners
Save time and become more efficient using Smokeball's new Family Mediation offering! You will now be able to automatically capture your client’s details during pre-mediation.
Valuing & Understanding Your Time as a Family Lawyer
Time is a family law firm’s one and only valuable commodity. In this guide, we will explore the importance of valuing your time as you ethically grow your law firm business.
.png)
Keeping your files up-do-date with Court Sync™
We are excited to announce that Smokeball now integrates seamlessly with Court Sync. Once documents, orders and judgements are submitted, clients can click the ‘Court Sync’ button within Smokeball and any updated documents will be automatically saved to the corresponding matter.
How Can Lawyers Witness a Will Remotely?
How can Lawyers Witness a Will Remotely? 27/3/20202 Comments Picture Estate Planning is the bread and butter of many small law firms. Wills, powers of attorney, guardianships and medical directives are important documents that require proper execution. Without the necessary witnessing and execution requirements met, it is easy to contest these documents when they come into effect.
Family Law documents can now be signed electronically
The new “Joint Practice Direction 2 of 2020 - Special Measures in Response to COVID-19” was issued by the Family Law Courts on 31 March 2020 in order to help combat the daily practical challenges now faced by Family Law practitioners as well as prioritise the health and safety of the wider community, Judges and Court staff.
2FA is here to protect you and your firm
Everything you need to know about 2FA and how to activate it in your firm.
5 Benefits of Using 2FA to Protect Your Law Firm & Clients
How 2FA protects sensitive client data, prevents breaches, and ensures compliance.
.avif)
How 2FA Protects Sensitive Legal Data
Learn why passwords alone aren’t enough and how two-factor authentication boosts your cybersecurity.
Top 5 Tips for Protecting Your Law Firm Against Cybercrime
Law firms are an extremely attractive target for cyber criminals, considering they are typically small companies that deal with large financial transactions. Fortunately, you can take key steps to improve cyber security efforts.
Explore other resources for your firm
Case studies
Discover how Smokeball empowers law firms of all sizes to streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and achieve greater success.
eBooks & guides
Learn, grow, and elevate your practice with Smokeball's eBooks and guides. Get the insights and tools you need to succeed.
Live and on-demand webinars
Supporting the legal industry with ongoing education to upskill and earn CPD points.
Ready to re-love the law?
Learn how Smokeball powers people-law firms around the world.