ApproveThis manages your Smokeball Integration approvals.

When Legal Workflow Meets Approval Muscle

Let's cut through the legal jargon: law firms using Smokeball already know it's the Swiss Army knife of practice management. But when you bolt on ApproveThis through Zapier? Suddenly you're not just managing cases - you're surgically removing bottlenecks from every approval process in your firm.

We're talking about transforming "Where's that signature?" into "It's already done." Turning expense report limbo into a three-click process. Making client onboarding feel less like herding cats and more like a well-oiled machine. This isn't just integration - it's giving your legal team steroids (the legal kind, obviously).

Why Your Paralegal Will Hug You For This Combo

Smokeball keeps the legal wheels turning. ApproveThis makes sure nobody's stuck waiting at the decision-making toll booth. Together through Zapier, they create a closed-loop system where:

• Every dollar spent gets eyes on it before accounting finds a problem
• Court deadlines get scheduled the moment approvals clear
• New client intake doesn't bottleneck at partner review

The kicker? Approvers don't need Smokeball licenses. Perfect for getting quick sign-offs from external counsel or that partner who still thinks "cloud" is something in the sky.

Real-World Wins for Law Firms

1. Expense Approval That Doesn't Make Associates Sweat

Picture this: A junior associate files $2,500 in deposition costs through Smokeball. Before they can even reach for antacids, ApproveThis:

1. Auto-routes based on your rules (≤$1k? Office manager. >$1k? Managing partner)
2. Slaps on calculated fields for matter budgeting compliance
3. Pushes approved expenses back to Smokeball before the coffee gets cold

Mid-sized firms using this combo report cutting expense approval cycles from 48 hours to 90 minutes. That's billable hours recovered, people.

2. Calendar Magic That Keeps Courts Happy

Approved a motion filing in ApproveThis? Zapier instantly creates the corresponding deadline in Smokeball's calendar. Missed court dates drop by 62% for firms using this automation. Because nobody wants to explain to a judge why their calendar was "out of sync."

3. Client Onboarding That Actually Onboards

New lead pops up in Smokeball? ApproveThis automatically fires off intake approval workflows. Conflict checks, engagement letter sign-offs, matter assignment - all routed before the potential client finishes their "Tell me about your fees" email.

One 85-attorney firm slashed new client setup from 3 days to 4 hours. That's the difference between "We'll get back to you" and "Let's start tomorrow."

Setting Up Without Losing Your Mind

If you can make a Zoom call, you can connect these systems:

1. Grab your Zapier account (free tier works)
2. Pick your trigger (New Smokeball expense? Lead? Closed matter?)
3. Choose the ApproveThis action (Create request, update status, etc.)
4. Test with a real $25 expense report instead of hypotheticals

Pro tip: Start with one workflow (expenses are easy wins), then clone it for other processes once the team's addicted.

Department-Specific Perks

For the Finance Team

Approval thresholds mean $950 consultations auto-approve (no bugging partners), while $50k settlement offers get instant partner eyes. Real-time tracking = no more "I approved that yesterday!" emails at month close.

For Managing Partners

Delegation features prevent approval gridlock when someone's in trial. Sequential routing ensures junior associates can't approve their own vendor invoices. Sleep easier knowing every decision leaves an audit trail.

For Client Teams

Auto-convert approved leads into Smokeball matters with all docs pre-attached. Conditional fields adjust approval paths based on case type - PI cases might skip accounting, while corporate matters auto-include compliance.

The Nuts and Bolts You'll Actually Use

While we could geek out about all 22 ApproveThis features, here's what legal teams actually abuse:

Approval Thresholds That Work Like Bail Conditions

Set it once: "Any expense under $1k with 'Court Fees' tag auto-approves." "Contingency cases need two partners." Then watch the system enforce rules more consistently than that one strict judge.

Calculated Fields That Do Math So You Don't Have To

Auto-calculate retainers against billable hours. Flag approvals needing extra docs if settlement amounts exceed 30% of matter budget. Because lawyers went to law school to avoid arithmetic.

Real-Time Tracking That's Better Than TV Drama

Know exactly which paralegal is sitting on that vendor contract approval. Color-coded dashboards show bottlenecks like a spotlight on a perp walk.

Why This Isn't Just Another "Integration"

Most legal tech integrations are like bad courtroom marriages - they exist, but nobody's happy. This combo works because:

• No dual data entry (mistakes breed contempt)
• Approval logic mirrors how firms actually work
• It fixes the "But I need it in Smokeball!" complaint permanently

Plus, Zapier acts like the world's most reliable paralegal - always working, never taking personal days.

Straight Talk for Skeptics

"But our approval process is special!" Cool. Yours isn't the first 200-attorney firm we've seen. Approval paths can handle:

- Multi-office routing (Chicago partner for Client X, NY for Client Y)

- Hybrid voting (3 of 5 exec committee members)

- External approvers (client GC gets read-only status)

And if it gets rejected? The system pings the originator faster than a lawyer can say "objection."

Bottom Line for Busy Firms

Every minute your team spends chasing signatures is a minute not spent billing. Every approval delay risks client relationships. With ApproveThis + Smokeball via Zapier:

- Cut approval cycles by 60-80%

- Eliminate "I thought you approved that!" errors

- Give clients that "wow, you're efficient" feeling

It's not about being the fanciest firm - it's about being the one that actually gets sh*t done.

Your Move, Counselor

Either keep doing approvals the old way (we hear carrier pigeons are available), or:

Grab a free ApproveThis trial and connect it to Smokeball in 15 minutes. Or book a demo to see exactly how 350-lawyer firms are saving 400+ hours monthly.

Because in the legal world, time isn't just money - it's malpractice prevention.