Letter of claim drafts for PI solicitors with Smokeball

Every new claim starts with a letter of claim built from the intake notes, and each one is drafted from scratch. If two fee earners open 20 claims a month and each letter takes 60 minutes, that's 1,200 minutes, 20 hours a month.

Smokeball is law-firm practice management software; its Archie add-on works inside the matter to draft, review and answer questions. A fee earner asks Archie for a first draft of the letter of claim from the matter, then checks the facts, allegations and any limitation or protocol point against the file and the Pre-Action Protocol before approving it. Smokeball says lawyers remain responsible for checking and approving final work.

A two-fee-earner PI firm in Manchester opens about 20 new claims a month. Both use Smokeball Prosper+ with Archie, ask for first drafts of the letters of claim, and a solicitor approves each one.

About 6.7 hours a month saved (20 minutes x 20 letters = 400 minutes), worth around £400 if fee-earner time is worth £60 an hour. Smokeball prices per user: Prosper+ £89 plus Archie £29 is £118 a user, so £236 for two fee earners. The 20 minutes saved is an assumption to test.

1. 1Ask Smokeball for a demo, the contract term and where your data is hosted.
2. 2Ask what its security documentation says about client data and AI, and keep the answers for your COLP.
3. 3Run two weeks on new claims with a solicitor checking every draft against the file.
4. 4Ask Archie for a draft, then verify every fact, date and allegation yourself against the file.
5. 5Set a rule that nothing goes to the other side until a solicitor has approved it.

• A draft can state an injury, date or allegation the file doesn't support. A wrong letter of claim can cost you credibility with the insurer, so check every fact.
• Claimant files hold health data, which is special category data under UK GDPR. Ask Smokeball where it is stored and how it is handled before using live files.
• Prosper+ is £89 per user and Archie £29 per user, so every extra fee earner adds £118 a month. Get a written quote for your seat count.
• Limitation dates are the fee earner's responsibility; do not rely on a draft for them.