Legal professionals from across the country gathered at Chicago’s historic Athletic Association for Smokeball Spark 2026: a day of CLEs, practical learning, big ideas, and conversations with peers who understand the realities of running a law firm.
Spark was designed to be more than a typical conference spent in a hotel ballroom. The day had a peaceful start at the iconic Cindy’s Rooftop, where attendees shared breakfast and took in views of Lake Michigan and Millenium Park while preparing for the day’s agenda.
Post-breakfast, attendees joined sessions on AI, legal skills, firm growth, technology, and practice management, along with hearing from a variety of industry leaders and experts.
Smokeball’s Co-Founder and CEO Hunter Steele kicked off the day followed by author and global thought-leader Sterling Hawkins, who shared how overcoming a difficult chapter in his own life led to his “No Matter What” philosophy, motivation that growth often asks us to face discomfort, meet challenges head-on, and surround ourselves with people who keep us moving forward.
Later, Smokeball’s U.S. President Ruchie Chadha circled in on the day’s human-focused center. Drawing on her experience as a junior attorney and the growth she has experienced since. In sharing these stories, she reflected on the emotional weight lawyers carry, the lives they touch, and the truth that most people don’t enter the legal profession for recognition; they do it to help people.
Throughout the day, attendees were encouraged to share what the practice of law means to them, connect with peers and sponsors, and even personalize a fabric pennant embroidered on a 100-year-old machine by a skilled craftsperson. Little reminders that even in a day focused on innovation and technology, human expertise and care make all the difference.
The day closed in the 1893-era Venetian Gothic Game Room; a setting that felt worlds away from the traditional conference hall. But the strongest takeaway was not one session, one speaker, or one tool. It was the value of learning alongside people who get what it means to practice people-law every day.
For solo attorneys, especially, that connection matters deeply. As one attendee shared, “As a solo, you sometimes feel like you’re going it alone. It was nice to feel like there were people to connect with.”
Practical ideas at the intersection of business and practice
Attendees came ready to explore how they could run stronger practices, serve clients well, and make day-to-day work more manageable. Across the breakout sessions and workshops, they found practical answers.
A D.C. attorney described learning about Smokeball features and processes they had not known existed. Onboarding specialists walked them through tools that make life easier for both them and their staff. Another attendee from California appreciated that Spark met the realities of modern firm leadership: a blend of technology management, business management, law practice management, and AI.
That balance is important. Lawyers are not only focused on the work in front of them; they’re building businesses, leading teams, and looking for smarter ways to manage the work that doesn’t directly serve their clients.
A reminder of why we love the law
The most moving moment of the day came during the 2026 Smokeball Beacon Awards.
Smokeball was honored to recognize Elleni Kalouris, Luke Shealey, and Krystle I. Myers—three legal professionals using their knowledge and time to create meaningful change in their communities. Their heartfelt speeches brought the room back to the reason this profession matters so much. When one winner’s spouse and eight-year-old son sat proudly in the front row, it was a powerful reminder that the impact of a lawyer’s work reaches far beyond a single matter.
Their stories reflected what people-law means in practice: using legal expertise to help people through difficult and major life moments, expand access to justice, and strengthen the communities around us.
Technology in service of people
Spark also offered a clear view of what thoughtful legal technology can look like. In one rapid-fire integration session, product partners connected their solutions around the story of a real client need, not a series of product pitches. The result showed how the right technology can work together to help a lawyer move a matter forward with less friction.
That’s what powering people-law represents; supporting lawyers and their teams with better ways to manage the administrative work around a matter, so they can focus more fully on the people at the heart of their work. It means creating space for legal professionals to learn, share, and leave with ideas they can put into practice.
At its core, Spark celebrated the people whose work makes a real difference inside their firms, for their clients, and in their communities.
Thank you to every attendee, speaker, Beacon Award winner, partner, and member of the legal community who made Spark 2026 such a meaningful day. We are proud to keep powering people-law alongside you.
