Enhanced provision of low-cost professional services

• US 20060227952A1
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Legal Aid Society
• Original Assignee: Legal Aid Society
• Inventors: Tavares, Antonio John, Cohen, Robert Jerold
• Application Number:
  US11/399,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20060227952A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.20
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

A method is provided for providing low-cost professional services. The method includes the steps collecting information from a user regarding a desired professional service, creating at least one electronic document based upon both the collected information and at least one of the plurality of professional service document forms, transmitting the at least one electronic document to a remote professional service provider for reviewing the at least one electronic document, and coordinating communication between the user and the remote professional service provider for approving or revising the at least one electronic document.

Claims

1. A method for providing low-cost professional services, the method comprising the steps of:

collecting information from a user regarding a desired professional service;

creating at least one electronic document based upon both the collected information and at least one of the plurality of professional service document forms;

transmitting the at least one electronic document to a remote professional service provider for reviewing the at least one electronic document; and

coordinating communication between the user and the remote professional service provider for approving or revising the at least one electronic document.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of maintaining a database having a plurality of professional service document forms.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of collecting payment from the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of prompting the user to choose the desired professional service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of prompting the user to choose the remote professional service provider from a list of remote professional service providers.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein if the remote professional service provider chosen by the user is unavailable, the user is assigned another remote professional service provider automatically.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of printing the at least one electronic document or transmitting the at least one electronic document to a third party for filing.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the at least one electronic document for later access by the user and/or the remote professional service provider.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the coordinating step includes referring the user to the remote professional service provider.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the collecting information step includes employing audio and/or video prompts for collecting the information from a user with limited literacy skills.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting step includes emailing the at least one electronic document to the remote professional service provider.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting conflict of interest data to the remote professional service provider.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting the at least one electronic document to a coordinator, and further includes the coordinator transmitting the at least one electronic document to the remote professional service provider.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the coordinating step includes providing a videoconference connection between the user and the remote professional service provider.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the coordinating step includes providing a two-way audio connection between the user and the remote professional service provider.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote professional service provider is an attorney.

17. A system for providing low-cost professional services, the system comprising:

a database having a plurality of professional service document forms;

a computer configured to;

collect information from a user regarding a desired professional service,

create at least one electronic document based upon both the collected information and at least one of the plurality of professional service document forms,

modify, if necessary, the at least one electronic document, based upon input entered by a remote professional service provider and/or the user, and

collect, if desired, payment from the user;

means for transmitting the at least one electronic document to the remote professional service provider for reviewing the at least one electronic document; and

means for communication between the user and the remote professional service provider for approving or revising the at least one electronic document.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer is remotely located from the database, and wherein the computer is configured to access the database using a network connection.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer is a publicly-accessible computer kiosk including a display, an input device, and a payment collector.

20. A computer usable medium having computer-readable program code for:

prompting a user to select a desired professional service;

collecting information from the user regarding the desired professional service;

accessing a database having a plurality of professional service document forms;

creating at least one electronic document based upon both the collected information and at least one of the plurality of professional service document forms;

transmitting the at least one electronic document to a remote professional service provider for reviewing the at least one electronic document;

coordinating communication between the user and the remote professional service provider for approving or revising the at least one electronic document; and

modifying, if necessary, the at least one electronic document, based upon input entered by the remote professional service provider and/or the user.

21. The computer usable medium of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable program code is also for providing, if necessary, instructional assistance to the user.

22. The computer usable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructional assistance includes multimedia presentations including audio and/or video content.

23. The computer usable medium of claim 20, wherein the transmitting the at least one electronic document to a remote professional service provider includes emailing the at least one electronic document to a remote professional service provider.

24. The computer usable medium of claim 20, wherein the coordinating communication includes providing an audio and/or videoconference connection between the user and the remote professional service provider.