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We’re excited to share September’s updates for Grow and Prosper+ . These new features are all about helping you work efficiently, improve your productivity and streamline your workflows.
Here’s what’s new:
1. Tag emails with Smokeball in Outlook
Region: Global
What’s new:
You can now see a dedicated "Smokeball" category when tagging emails in Outlook to a Smokeball matter. This feature is enabled by default but can be disabled in the settings.
Why it matters:
This feature helps you quickly identify which emails have been assigned to Smokeball matters. By utilizing this tagging option, at a glance, you’ll easily be able to see which emails have yet to be assigned – making email management a breeze.
How it works:
When composing or reviewing emails in Outlook, assign an email to a Smokeball matter. This will add the "Smokeball" category tag to that email, making it easier to identify later. If you prefer not to use this feature, it can be turned off in the settings under e-mail Preferences.
Learn more:
Discover how to identify emails in Outlook assigned to a matter.
2. Easily know your billed and unbilled time
Region: Global
What’s new:
Performance reporting has become much easier and more accurate. You’re now able to view the hours you’re billing against the actual hours worked on the job.
Why it matters:
By splitting out time worked versus time billed you can now accurately report on staff productivity and client billing. It helps streamline financial reporting and performance analysis for law firms.
How it works:
In the time recording interface, you’ll now see two fields: one for “Working Hours" and one for “Billing Hours”. Enter the time spent in the appropriate fields, and the system will automatically split them into reports, allowing for better tracking and billing.
Learn more:
More details coming soon on the Support Hub.
3. Create file notes in a template
Impacted regions: Australia and UK
What’s new:
File notes are now created in a pre-populated template with a simple click. When you create a file note after a client meeting, the date, time, file number, and matter details are automatically filled in, leaving you to simply input your notes.
Why it matters:
This update saves time by eliminating repetitive manual data entry, allowing lawyers to quickly document meeting outcomes or case progress. It improves accuracy and keeps all relevant information organised, contributing to a more efficient workflow.
How it works:
In the action bar click New Document and select file note. A template will open with the date, time, and matter details prepopulated. All you need to do is add your notes. Once saved, the file note is automatically stored in the All Documents section.
Learn more:
Find out how to create a file note.
4. Add an intake form link to a precedent template
Region: Global
Who’s it for: Grow (with LeadPro and/or MatterFlow add-ons), all Prosper+ clients
What’s new:
Firms can now link an intake form directly to a precedent template, removing the extra steps of manually adding intake links to generated documents.
Why it matters:
This feature reduces the manual workload when generating documents that require an intake form link. It allows firms to automate the process, reducing errors and speeding up document preparation, ultimately leading to more efficient client onboarding and case management.
How it works:
When setting up a precedent, you can now attach an intake link directly to the template. This eliminates the need for post-generation edits and ensures the form is ready when the document is created. Simply choose the appropriate template, and the intake form link will be pre-included.
Learn more:
More details coming soon on the Support Hub.
Key takeaways
At Smokeball, we continuously work to make Grow and Prosper_ the productivity powerhouse for law firms. These updates were designed to increase efficiency, improve accuracy, and reduce manual work in daily tasks. By streamlining tasks like email management, time tracking, and document creation, your team can focus more on client work and less on administrative tasks.
We’re here to help!
We hope these updates help improve your workflow, and we look forward to delivering more enhancements next month!
If you need assistance, feel free to reach out to our support team.
