Legal expense tracking and approval methods and systems
OwnerEugene J. Belford, Martha C. Poulter +5inventors
InventorsEugene J. Belford, Martha C. Poulter, Susan L. Poland, Denise A. Vaios, Patricia Glynn, Robert Obolewicz, Julie A. Giglio
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Abstract
Methods and systems for tracking and approving legal expenses using a legal expense tracking system are disclosed. The method includes selecting a legal matter identifier for the legal work, engaging an outside counsel regarding planned legal work through a prompt, prompting the outside counsel to input data relating to expenses received from a legal services invoice, prompting a user for an approval of submitted legal invoices, and generating legal expense reports.
Claims66
A method for operating a computer to facilitate tracking and approving of legal expenses using a legal expense tracking system, said method comprising the steps of:
- prompting an inside counsel to generate a legal identifier for planned legal work;
- prompting an outside counsel regarding the planned legal work;
- prompting the outside counsel to input data relating to at least one expense;
- prompting a user for an approval of the expense;
- and
- generating at least one legal expense report.
A computer programmed to:
- prompt an outside counsel regarding planned legal work, the legal work identified by a legal matter identifier;
- prompt the outside counsel to input data relating to at least one expense;
- prompt a user for an approval of the expense;
- and
- generate at least one legal expense report.
A database comprising:
- data corresponding to a legal matter identifier;
- data corresponding to contacting of outside counsel;
- data corresponding to legal expenses;
- and
- data corresponding to approval of the legal expenses.
A system for legal expenses tracking/approval comprising:
- a computer configured as a server, and further configured to generate legal expense reports said server comprising a legal expense database which comprises data corresponding to legal matter identifiers, data corresponding to contacting of outside counsel, data corresponding to legal expenses and data corresponding to approval of the legal expenses;
- at least one other computer coupled to said server forming a network, each said other computer includes an interface allowing said other computer and said server to communicate therebetween, said interface configured to allow said other computer to upload data relating to legal invoices to said server and to allow said server to download legal expense data comprising at least one legal expense report to said other computer.
A method for tracking and approving legal expenses, said method comprising the steps of:
- selecting, from an electronic interface, to notify at least one outside counsel regarding legal work and to prompt the outside counsel to input data relating to at least one legal expense;
- selecting, from the electronic interface, to approve the input expense;
- and
- requesting, from the electronic interface, a legal expense report comprising the legal expense input data.
Apparatus comprising:
- means for prompting an outside counsel regarding planned legal work;
- means for prompting the outside counsel to input data relating to at least one expense;
- means for prompting a user for an approval of the expense;
- and
- means for generating at least one legal expense report.
A computer-readable medium comprising:
- records corresponding to at least one legal matter identifier;
- records corresponding to at least one outside counsel;
- at least one record of submitted legal expenses;
- and
- a plurality of rules for approval of submitted legal expenses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.