Executive Director's Report • September 2024

New Free Benefit Helps with Trust Compliance and More

I’m pleased to share that your state bar is offering a new benefit that will make your practice easier. We’ve partnered with Smokeball to get all of our members free access to a trust accounting and billing software package called Smokeball Bill.

Staying compliant with trust accounting and billing can be a struggle for solos and small firms, eating up your valuable time and energy. This free tool can help you get a handle on client trust accounts and stay compliant with regulations.

It has many useful features to help with that goal. You can use it to track your time, fees, and expenses. You can easily monitor your accounts receivable and use the included templates to create professional-looking invoices. And it allows you to give your clients the option to pay you online.

With multiple training options, it won’t be too hard for you or your staff to learn how to use Smokeball Bill. Learn at your own pace using its “Academy” and searchable knowledge base. You can also become a member of the Smokeball Community, where you can ask questions and discuss the tool with fellow attorney users.

I truly believe that equipping all Texas attorneys with this innovative software will empower them to efficiently manage their trust accounting compliantly and spend more time practicing law.

To learn more and to sign up, go to smokeball.com/texasbill.

Want more tips and resources for your practice from the State Bar? Check out our Texas Bar Practice website for articles, videos, downloads, and more by visiting texasbarpractice.com.

You’ll find articles there from experts on starting a practice, growing and maintaining it, tech tips, succession planning, and more. While you’re there, be sure to sign up for Texas Bar Practice’s quarterly newsletter Practice Makes Perfect.

The Texas Bar Practice site also includes a bookstore, where you can see all the legal titles and manuals available from Texas Bar Books. Check out our manuals for various practice areas, including family law, real estate, wills and probate, business, criminal law, and more. Most titles are available in hard copy or digital format.

Practice manuals are written by expert attorneys and are updated frequently as laws and procedures change, with automatic subscription renewals available.

Your State Bar is always on the lookout for innovative ideas and partnerships to support your practice. I’m proud of all the great resources we have to offer, and I hope you’ll give Smokeball Bill and our other law practice management benefits a try.

Sincerely,

TREY APFFEL
Executive Director, State Bar of Texas
Editor in Chief, Texas Bar Journal