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 data processing system for managing data related to a professional services project, comprising:
 a. a computer for processing the data;   b. a software application cooperating with said computer; and   c. data storage means cooperating with said computer for storing data;   d. the data cooperating with said software application;   e. the data in a substantially portable format.   
     
     
         2 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising data in portable format. 
     
     
         3 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising data in a substantially application-independent format. 
     
     
         4 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising data in application-independent format, 
     
     
         5 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , further comprising, data selected from the group consisting of: docketing; calendaring; word processing; document management; accounting; and time and billing: 
     
     
         6 . The data processing system of  claim 5 , further comprising data in data in portable format. 
     
     
         7 . The data processing system of  claim 5 , further comprising data in substantially application-independent format. 
     
     
         8 . The data processing system of  claim 5 , further comprising data in application-independent format. 
     
     
         9 . The data processing system of  claim 5 , further comprising accounting data. 
     
     
         10 . The data processing system of  claim 5 , further comprising docketing data.