Template Specialist

Smokeball - Legal Software•Chicago, IL

2d•$65,000 - $75,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Template Specialist works within TemplateLab, Smokeball’s premium document-drafting solution, to help law firms create and improve document templates. The role consults directly with clients to understand document requirements, translate them into build instructions, deliver and test templates, and manage improvements during the post-completion feedback period. The specialist also reviews contractor-configured work and makes final decisions about whether templates are ready for client release. This role sets and evolves standards for building, delivering, and improving templates. It includes advising clients on whether traditional templates or AI-assisted drafting best suit their needs, collaborating with Legal Engineering, Product, and client teams, and improving the tools and workflows that support template development. The role also supports Smokeball’s court and agency form library, court-caption configurations, and firm letterhead delivery. This is a hybrid role based in Smokeball’s Chicago, Illinois office. Chicagoland employees are required to be in the office on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Smokeball provides detailed, supportive, immersive training.

Requirements

At least 3 years of experience in a legal support role, such as paralegal or legal assistant, at a law firm with 1–30 employees.
Hands-on experience drafting legal documents and/or court forms.
Confidence working directly with clients, gathering requirements, managing follow-up, and setting realistic expectations.
Exceptional attention to detail and a record of accurate work in a detail-oriented environment.
Strong ownership and judgment, including the ability to work independently, act with urgency, and maintain high quality standards.
Curiosity, adaptability, and enthusiasm for using AI tools to work more efficiently.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word and Outlook.
Bachelor’s degree, Associate’s degree, or equivalent professional experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience with document templates, document field-code tools, or form building/configuration.
Experience with Smokeball or a similar legal practice management platform.
Experience working with outsourcing teams or reviewing delegated work.
Familiarity with multiple areas of law and their document workflows.
Experience using AI in a work context for document drafting and streamlining day-to-day work.
Experience with and understanding of Word document formatting.

Responsibilities

Consult with clients purchasing custom template packages to gather requirements and turn them into clear build instructions.
Upload templates into client accounts, test them, and own improvements through the post-completion feedback period.
Build templates and perform template quality assurance according to standards for court and authority forms, starter templates, and custom templates.
Troubleshoot complex technical issues and make final decisions on template readiness before client release.
Research, design, build, and maintain court captions across areas of law and jurisdictions using Smokeball’s configuration application, collaborating with clients to capture their needs.
Configure and deliver new-firm letterhead during onboarding and create paid letterhead customizations, building reusable solutions that control formatting and behavior across templates.
Work with the Legal Product Operations Manager to maintain and evolve the library of more than 20,000 court and agency forms, using client usage data and jurisdictional changes to prioritize additions, updates, and retirements.
Support template-building contractors by answering questions, reviewing their work, and providing feedback.
Adopt emerging AI and automation tools to accelerate template development and help determine which documents are best suited to traditional templates or AI-assisted drafting.
Partner with Legal Engineering, Product, and Client Success to resolve issues, improve tools and workflows, and reinforce quality standards.
Define and evolve template quality standards, identify gaps and risks, and drive process improvements that reduce rework and support scale.