Patent ID: 7617154

Claim:
A method in a computing system having a processor and memory for procuring information relating to a matter in which a vendor is representing a client, comprising: receiving via the computing system from the client information identifying one or more required information items that are to be collected from the vendor in connection with the vendor's representation of the client; receiving via the computing system from the client an indication of the time by which each of the required information items is to be collected from the vendor, each of the indicated times falling after a time at which the vendor commences representation of the client; receiving via an invoice presentation web interface of the computing system an invoice from the vendor for services provided in connection with the matter; in response to receiving the invoice: for each required information item identified by the received information, determining by the computer system whether (1) the information item has been provided or (2) the time by which provision of the information item is required is in the future, making the received invoice available to the client only if every information item identified by the retrieved information either (1) has been provided or (2) has a provision time that is in the future, and refusing to make the received invoice available to the client if any information item identified by the retrieved information (1) has not been provided and (2) does not have a provision time that is in the future; evaluating the accuracy and currentness of the required information items provided by the vendor; and providing the evaluation to the client for use in selecting a vendor for a new representation.