According to the law blog Law360, May saw a growth of 0.3%, or 3,200 jobs, in May. The data was compiled from a combination of U.S. Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, both issued on June 5. While the bump marks a potential trend toward a return to “normal,” the overall numbers […] The post May numbers up, but unemployment still a concern for law firms appeared first on Smokeball.…

The first half of 2020 has been anything but normal. Law firms—like most other businesses—began working remotely in March; closing their physical locations in April; and weathering court closures, furloughs, and other financial uncertainties by May. You’ve read all of this before; even more, you’ve lived it. But parallel storylines have been playing out simultaneously […] The post What is the “new normal” for law firms? appeared first on Smokeball.…

The COVID-19 crisis continues to affect communities across the country, but at this point all 50 states have started to relax the stay-at-home guidelines enacted earlier this year. Businesses are finding ways to comply with new safety guidelines and resume operations that may have been slowed or completely shut down earlier this year. Many law firms, however, were able to continue […] The post State are reopening, but law firms are taking their time appeared first on Smokeball.…

The following article was written by Christina Martell, Esq. This month I finalized one of the first adoptions in our county via Zoom. It only happened through an introduction, a cell phone conversation, and a Zoom link sent to several emails. Just days later friends and family members of my client watched virtually as the […] The post Zooming ahead: How the coronavirus pandemic has transformed the legal profession in one particular way appeared first…

COVID-19 has changed the way we work, learn, and socialize-and it’s made many of us question our future plans. As law firms around the country cancel or abbreviate their summer associate programs in response to budget and remote working constraints, their would-be summer associates find themselves scrambling for new summer plans.   Just as Smokeball has […] The post The future of summer associate programs appeared first on Smokeball.…

Each spring, thousands of law students graduate from law schools across the country, celebrate for a few days, and then almost unanimously enroll in and attend full-time test prep courses by companies like Kaplan. Countless hours and millions of dollars later, these same students take their respective bar exams where many will pass, and the […] The post Is the bar exam necessary anymore? appeared first on Smokeball.…

Smokeball clients are now eligible to receive free software licenses for their summer associates. Just as we have assisted attorneys who are adjusting to remote work environments with improved video chat, time tracking, and e-signing, we are proud to continue supporting those law firms seeking to maintain or expand their summer associate programs.   Smokeball is committed to ensuring […] The post Smokeball legal case management software offers law firms free licenses for summer associates appeared first on Smokeball…