System and method for separate charges to a law firm for each out-of-pocket cost

Abstract

A computerized method and system for the payment of out-of-pocket fees such as patent and trademark fees is disclosed. The patent or trademark fee for a client of a firm is charged against an account maintained by an organization separate from the firm. A charge issued at a workstation at the firm is delivered to a patent or patent and trademark agency, or a foreign associate firm, where it is cashed against an account maintained by the separate organization. The firm bills the client for the fee, along with a service charge, while the separate organization bills the firm for the fee and the service charge. Payment from the client to the firm for the fee and service charge is then sent to the separate organization to cover the firm's bill from the separate organization. A law firm maintains its own account and uses a second account funded with a loan to pay the out-of-pocket costs. According to one or more example embodiments of the inventive subject matter hereof, but not by limitation, there is provided method and apparatus providing for a third party to assist a law firm to pay a plurality of out-of-pocket costs for one or more clients, and the third party billing the law firm services rendered in connection with the separate charges.

1 . A method comprising: a service provider providing services to a law firm in relation to separate charges assessed for each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; and wherein each separate charge relates to a cost associated with financing the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a fee paid to a government patent and trademark office.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a paid by a transfer of funds from the law firm to a third party.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is financed by a financing organization independent of the law firm.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  further wherein the separate charge is determined prior to a transfer of funds to pay the out-of-pocket cost.  
     
     
         6 . A method comprising: a service provider providing services to a law firm in relation to separate charges assessed for each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; and wherein each separate charge relates to a to a loan of funds to pay the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a fee paid to a government patent and trademark office.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a paid by a transfer of funds from the law firm to a third party.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 6  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is financed by a financing organization independent of the law firm.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6  further wherein the separate charge is determined prior to a transfer of funds to pay the out-of-pocket cost.  
     
     
         11 . A method comprising: a service provider providing services to a law firm in relation to separate charges assessed for each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; wherein each separate charge relates to a cost associated with financing the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm; and the service provider receiving a payment from the law firm for the services rendered in connection with the separate charge.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a fee paid to a government patent and trademark office.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a paid by a transfer of funds from the law firm to a third party.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is financed by a financing organization independent of the law firm.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11  further wherein the separate charge is determined prior to a transfer of funds to pay the out-of-pocket cost.  
     
     
         16 . A method comprising: a service provider providing services to a law firm in relation to separate charges assessed for each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; wherein each separate charge relates to a to a loan of funds to pay the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm; and the service provider receiving a payment from the law firm for the services rendered in connection with the separate charge.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a fee paid to a government patent and trademark office.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a paid by a transfer of funds from the law firm to a third party.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is financed by a financing organization independent of the law firm.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16  further wherein the separate charge is determined prior to a transfer of funds to pay the out-of-pocket cost.  
     
     
         21 . A method comprising: billing a law firm a separate charge in relation to each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; and wherein each separate charge relates to a cost associated with financing the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a fee paid to a government patent and trademark office.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 21  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a paid by a transfer of funds from the law firm to a third party.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 21  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is financed by a financing organization independent of the law firm.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 21  further wherein the separate charge is determined prior to a transfer of funds to pay the out-of-pocket cost.  
     
     
         26 . A method comprising: billing a law firm a separate charge in relation to each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; and wherein each separate charge relates to a to a loan of funds to pay the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a fee paid to a government patent and trademark office.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 26  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a paid by a transfer of funds from the law firm to a third party.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 26  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is financed by a financing organization independent of the law firm.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 26  further wherein the separate charge is determined prior to a transfer of funds to pay the out-of-pocket cost.  
     
     
         31 . A method comprising: billing a law firm a separate charge in relation to each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; wherein each separate charge relates to a cost associated with financing the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm; and receiving a payment from the law firm for the services rendered in relation to the separate charges billed to the law firm.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 31  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a fee paid to a government patent and trademark office.  
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 31  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a paid by a transfer of funds from the law firm to a third party.  
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 31  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is financed by a financing organization independent of the law firm.  
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 31  further wherein the separate charge is determined prior to a transfer of funds to pay the out-of-pocket cost.  
     
     
         36 . A method comprising: billing a law firm a separate charge in relation to each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; herein each separate charge relates to a to a loan of funds to pay the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm; and receiving a payment from the law firm for the services rendered in relation to the separate charges billed to the law firm.  
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 36  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a fee paid to a government patent and trademark office.  
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 36  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a paid by a transfer of funds from the law firm to a third party.  
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 36  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is financed by a financing organization independent of the law firm.  
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 36  further wherein the separate charge is determined prior to a transfer of funds to pay the out-of-pocket cost.  
     
     
         41 . A method comprising: billing a law firm a separate charge in relation to each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; wherein each separate charge relates to a cost associated with financing the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm; and receiving payment from the law firm for the services rendered in relation to transactions involving the financing of the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm.  
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 41  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a fee paid to a government patent and trademark office.  
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 41  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a paid by a transfer of funds from the law firm to a third party.  
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 41  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is financed by a financing organization independent of the law firm.  
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 41  further wherein the separate charge is determined prior to a transfer of funds to pay the out-of-pocket cost.  
     
     
         46 . A method comprising: billing a law firm a separate charge in relation to each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; wherein each separate charge relates to a to a loan of funds to pay the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm; and receiving payment from the law firm for the services rendered in relation to transactions involving the financing of the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm.  
     
     
         47 . A method according to  claim 46  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a fee paid to a government patent and trademark office.  
     
     
         48 . A method according to  claim 46  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is a paid by a transfer of funds from the law firm to a third party.  
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 46  further wherein the out-of-pocket cost is financed by a financing organization independent of the law firm.  
     
     
         50 . A method according to  claim 46  further wherein the separate charge is determined prior to a transfer of funds to pay the out-of-pocket cost.  
     
     
         51 . Apparatus comprising one or more computer systems programmed to: determine a service fee for services rendered by a service provider providing services to a law firm in relation to separate charges assessed for each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; and wherein the one or more computers are further programmed to determine each separate charge as a function of a cost associated with funding the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm.  
     
     
         52 . Apparatus comprising one or more computer systems programmed to: determine a service fee for services rendered by a service provider providing services to a law firm in relation to separate charges assessed for each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; and wherein the one or more computers are further programmed to determine each separate charge as a function of a financing activity associated with funding the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm.  
     
     
         53 . Apparatus comprising one or more computer systems programmed to: determine a separate charge to bill a law firm in relation to each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; and wherein the one or more computers are further programmed to determine each separate charge as a function of a cost associated with funding the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm.  
     
     
         54 . Apparatus comprising one or more computer systems programmed to: determine a separate charge to bill a law firm in relation to each of a plurality of out-of-pocket costs incurred by the law firm for one or more clients of the law firm; and wherein the one or more computers are further programmed to determine each separate charge as a function of a financing activity associated with funding the respective out-of-pocket cost incurred by the law firm.