Alt Legal
Alt Legal is a specialized IP management software that automates trademark docketing and monitoring to help legal professionals track deadlines and protect brand assets with ease.
Smokeball
Smokeball is a cloud-based legal practice management software that helps small to mid-sized law firms manage matters, track time automatically, and generate documents to increase overall firm productivity.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Alt Legal | Smokeball |
|---|---|---|
| Website | altlegal.com | smokeball.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $50/month | $39/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 0 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2013 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | New York, USA | Chicago, USA |
Overview
Alt Legal
Alt Legal is a dedicated IP management platform designed to take the manual labor out of trademark docketing. Instead of manually checking status updates, you get a system that automatically connects to the USPTO and international databases to update your deadlines and filings in real-time. You can manage thousands of marks without worrying about missed dates or data entry errors.
The software is built for law firms and in-house legal departments of all sizes who need to streamline their intellectual property workflows. It simplifies complex tasks like generating client reports, monitoring for potential infringements, and collecting intake information through digital forms. By centralizing your entire trademark portfolio, you can focus on high-level strategy rather than administrative paperwork.
Smokeball
Smokeball is a cloud-based legal practice management platform designed to help you run a more productive and profitable law firm. It centralizes your entire practice by combining matter management, automated document creation, and lead tracking in one interface. You can manage every detail of a case from initial intake to final billing without jumping between different applications or manual spreadsheets.
The platform solves the common headache of manual time entry by automatically recording every minute you spend working on documents and emails. This ensures you never miss a billable hour and provides deep insights into your firm's profitability. Whether you practice family law, estate planning, or personal injury, you can use pre-built matter types and automated forms to slash the time spent on administrative tasks.
Overview
Alt Legal Features
- Automated Docketing Connect directly to the USPTO and international offices to automatically update your deadlines and status changes without manual entry.
- Trademark Monitoring Scan new filings across the USPTO to identify potential infringements and protect your brand assets before they become problems.
- One-Click Reporting Generate clean, professional reports for your clients or internal stakeholders in seconds using customizable templates and filters.
- Digital Intake Forms Collect trademark data directly from your clients through branded digital forms that sync information straight into your docket.
- Document Storage Keep all your applications, registrations, and correspondence organized and linked directly to the relevant trademark records.
- TEAS Integration Pre-populate USPTO filings with your docket data to speed up the application process and reduce clerical errors.
Smokeball Features
- Automatic Time Tracking. Capture every billable second automatically as you work on documents and emails so you never miss a minute of revenue.
- Document Automation. Generate complex legal documents in seconds using a library of over 20,000 automated forms that pull data directly from your matters.
- Matter Management. Organize all your files, contacts, and deadlines in one digital location to keep your entire team synchronized on every case.
- Legal Billing. Create professional invoices and manage trust accounting effortlessly with built-in tools that sync directly with your tracked time and expenses.
- Lead Management. Track potential new clients from the first phone call through the intake process to ensure no new business falls through the cracks.
- Mobile App. Access your entire law firm from your pocket to view matter details, call clients, and track time while you are on the go.
Pricing Comparison
Alt Legal Pricing
- Unlimited users
- Automated USPTO docketing
- International data sync
- One-click reporting
- Free data migration
- Unlimited support
- Everything in 50 Matters tier, plus:
- Scalable matter tracking
- Advanced monitoring options
- Client intake forms
- Document management
- Customizable notifications
Smokeball Pricing
- Time and expense tracking
- Legal billing and invoicing
- Trust accounting
- Smokeball Payments integration
- Basic reporting
- Mobile app access
- Everything in Bill, plus:
- Full matter management
- Document management
- Email management with Outlook
- Tasks and workflows
- Shared firm calendar
Pros & Cons
Alt Legal
Pros
- Automated USPTO updates save hours of manual data entry
- Intuitive interface is much easier to navigate than legacy systems
- Exceptional customer support helps with data migration and setup
- Unlimited user seats make it affordable for growing teams
Cons
- International automation is less comprehensive than US-based tracking
- Limited customization options for specific niche practice areas
- Pricing scales quickly as your trademark portfolio grows
Smokeball
Pros
- Automatic time tracking captures revenue you might otherwise miss
- Extensive library of automated legal forms saves hours of drafting
- Deep integration with Microsoft Word and Outlook streamlines workflows
- Excellent customer support and personalized onboarding experience
Cons
- Higher price point compared to some basic competitors
- Steep learning curve due to the vast feature set
- Full automation features require the desktop version