Method and system for the management of professional services project information

Abstract

A method and system are provided for the transfer and/or aggregation of data and, in particular integrating data used in managing a professional services practice. The invention preferably transfers and/or aggregates data relating to the identity of clients and matters for whom professional services are being rendered with data relating to the work which data may be maintained in inconsistent, proprietary formats, comprising one or more of the following types of information: accounting; budgeting; docketing; time and billing; work product; word processing; records; project management; and/or other information relating to the professional services. The system of the present invention preferably comprises data storage and data processing means adapted to use the data in substantially portable and/or application-independent format, and/or and transfer or aggregate data between common, and/or proprietary data formats.

1 . A user interface for a computer network used in a professional services practice, comprising:
 a. first substantially distributed application;   b. second substantially distributed application;   c. said first distributed application being adapted to communicate said second distributed application;   d. data storage means cooperating with one or more of said first or second distributed applications for storing data used in the professional services practice;   e. a user interface capable of accessing said data; and   f. said user interface adapted to cooperate with one or more of said first or second distributed application means and said data storage means.   
     
     
         2 . The user interface of  claim 1 , said user interface further comprising:
 a. client means;   b. matter means; and   c. project means.   
     
     
         3 . The interface of  claim 2 , said project means further comprising: event means and task means. 
     
     
         4 . The user interface of  claim 1 , said user interface further comprising one of the group consisting of: links to records in said one or more distributed applications; project management means; risk assessment means; docketing means; and accounting means. 
     
     
         5 . The user interface of  claim 1 , further comprising data in substantially portable format. 
     
     
         6 . The user interface of  claim 1 , further comprising data in portable format. 
     
     
         7 . The user interface of  claim 1 , further comprising data in substantially application-independent format. 
     
     
         8 . The user interface of  claim 1 , further comprising data in application independent format 
     
     
         9 . The user interface of  claim 3 , further comprising docketing means. 
     
     
         10 . The user interface of  claim 3 , further comprising accounting means. 
     
     
         11 . A user interface for computer network for use in a professional services practice, comprising:
 a. one or more distributed applications;   b. case management database adapted to communicate with said one or more distributed application means;   c. data storage means cooperating with case management database means; and   e. the user interface cooperating with one or more of said data storage means and said one or more distributed application means.   
     
     
         12 . The user interface of  claim 11 , said user interface further comprising;
 a. client means;   b. matter means; and   c. project means.   
     
     
         13 . The user interface of  claim 12 , said project means further comprising: event means and task means. 
     
     
         14 . The user interface of  claim 11 , said user interface further comprising one or more of the group consisting of: links to records in said one or more distributed applications project management means; risk assessment means; docketing means; and accounting means. 
     
     
         15 . The user interface of  claim 11 , further comprising data in substantially portable format. 
     
     
         16 . The user interface of  claim 11 , further comprising data in portable format. 
     
     
         17 . The user interface of  claim 11 , further comprising data in substantially application-independent format. 
     
     
         18 . The user interface of  claim 11 , further comprising data application independent format. 
     
     
         19 . The user interface of  claim 13 , further comprising docketing means. 
     
     
         20 . The user interface of  claim 13 , further comprising accounting means.