Patent ID: 8296203

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: providing a billing program for a legal services client, the billing program including each of the following components: periodic flat rate charges billable to the client on a regularly occurring basis for a pre-defined scope of legal service, the periodic flat rate charges being independent of time spent by providers of the legal service, and litigation defense charges billable to the client according to a graduated fee structure based in part on an outcome of a litigation, such litigation being within the scope of legal service provided under the periodic flat rate, the litigation defense charges being subject to a holdback at a first rate for a client not currently paying the periodic flat rate charges, the holdback being at a second rate for a client currently paying the periodic flat rate charges, the second rate being greater than the first rate, the litigation defense charge, holdback thus being based in part on payment of the periodic flat rate and the litigation being within the scope of legal service provided under the periodic flat rate; and using a processor to generate a billing for the legal services client, the billing including periodic flat rate charges and litigation defense charges associated with the legal services client.