Systems and methods for facilitating attorney client relationships, document assembly and nonjudicial dispute resolution

1. a networked based and computer implemented system for creating, managing, and sharing documents with originators and lawyers and for resolving disputes, the system comprising:

a) a host site computer system in communication via a network with originator computers and lawyer computers;

b) the host site computer having an originator module, the originator module:

i. displaying a plurality of interactive legal document forms, for selection by an originator;

ii. displaying an interactive and context sensitive help window, the window making available printed, video or live person help information to the originator;

iii. displaying questions to the originator and accepting responses from the originator;

iv. populating an originator selected legal form with the information entered by the originator;

v. displaying the originator selected legal form before and after originator supplied information is added to the originator selected legal form;

vi. sending the originator selected legal form to a document manager module;

c) the host site computer further including the document manager module, the document manager:

i. displaying to the originator the choice of sharing the selected legal form with a known lawyer and if no lawyer is known to the originator, displaying to the originator a search page of participating lawyers, the participating lawyers displayed by a lawyer management module;

ii. requiring the originator to personally confirm the identity of a selected lawyer by confirming the displayed name and email address of the selected lawyer found within an electronic communication from the selected lawyer;

iii. denying the selected lawyer access to shared documents until the selected lawyer accepts an engagement proposal from the originator and further denying the selected lawyer access to the shared documents until the identity of the selected lawyer has been confirmed by the originator, the identity of the selected lawyer being confirmed by the client, by the client personally reviewing the email address of an email sent by the lawyer;

iii. displaying shared documents with the originator;

iv. displaying shared documents with the lawyer;

vi. communicating with a lawyer management module;

v. allowing the lawyer and the originator to make changes and track changes to shared documents;

d) the host site computer further including the lawyer management module, the lawyer management module:

i. displaying biographical information of participating lawyers to originators;

ii. displaying registration and login functions to lawyers;

iii. displaying to the lawyers the option of accepting or rejecting proposed engagements with originators;

e) the host site computer further including a nonjudicial resolution module, the nonjudicial resolution module:

i. displaying registration and login functions to arbitrators, lawyers and originators;

ii. displaying all relevant documents to the arbitrators;

iii. transmitting briefs from lawyers and originators to arbitrators;

iv. providing an escrow account to hold any assets or fees subject to the arbitration proceeding.

2. A method of operating a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) operating a host site computer system, the host site computer system in communication with originator computers and lawyer computers;

b) the host site computer having an originator module and using the originator module for:

i. displaying a plurality of legal document forms;

ii. displaying an interactive and context sensitive help window, the window making available printed, video or live person help information;

iii. displaying questions to the originator and accepting responses from the originator;

iv. populating a selected legal form with the information entered by the originator;

v. displaying the selected legal form before and after originator supplied information is added to the legal form;

vi. sending the selected legal form to a document manager module;

c) the host site computer including the document manager module and using the document manager for:

i. displaying to an originator the choice of sharing a legal form with a known lawyer and if no lawyer is known to the originator, transmitting an interactive display allowing the originator to search for participating lawyers by use of a lawyer management module;

ii. confirming the identity of the selected lawyer to confirm the displayed name and email address of the selected lawyer;

iii. denying the lawyer access to shared documents until the selected lawyer accepts a engagement proposal from the originator and further denying the selected lawyer access to the shared documents until the identity of the selected lawyer has been confirmed by the originator;

iii. displaying the shared documents with the appropriate originator;

iv. displaying the shared documents with the appropriate lawyer;

vi. communicating with a lawyer management module;

v. allowing lawyers and originators to make changes and track changes to shared documents;

d) the host site computer having the lawyer management module, and using the lawyer management module to provide:

i. a display of biographical information of participating lawyers to originators;

ii. an interactive display for registration and login functions to lawyers;

iii. an interactive display for lawyers accepting or rejecting proposed engagements with originators;

e) the host site computer having a nonjudicial resolution module, and using the nonjudicial resolution module for providing:

i. an interactive display for registration and login functions to arbitrators, lawyers and originators;

ii. display of all relevant documents to the arbitrators;

iii. transmission of briefs from lawyers and originators to arbitrators;

iv. an escrow account to hold any assets or fees subject to the arbitration proceeding.

3. A computer implemented method for creating, managing, and sharing documents with originators and lawyers and for resolving disputes, the method executed by one or more processors configured to perform the following operations:

a) operating a host site computer system, the host site computer system comprising one or more processors instructed to be in communication with originator computers and lawyer computers;

b) the host site computer having an originator module and using the originator module for:

i. displaying a plurality of interactive legal document forms;

ii. displaying an interactive context sensitive help window, the window making available printed, video or live person help information;

iii. displaying questions to an originator and accepting responses from an originator;

iv. populating a selected legal form with the information entered by an originator;

v. displaying a selected legal form before and after originator supplied information is added to the legal form;

vi. sending the selected legal form to a document manager module;

c) the host site computer including the document manager module and using the document manager for:

i. displaying to an originator the choice of sharing a legal form with a known lawyer and if no lawyer is known to the originator, allowing the originator to search for participating lawyers via communication with a lawyer management module;

ii. confirming the identity of the selected lawyer to confirm the presented name and email address of the selected lawyer;

iii. denying a selected lawyer access to shared documents until the selected lawyer accepts an engagement proposal from an originator and further denying the selected lawyer access to the shared documents until the identity of the selected lawyer has been confirmed by the originator;

iii. displaying shared documents with the appropriate originator;

iv. displaying shared documents with the appropriate lawyer;

vi. communicating with a lawyer management module;

v. displaying shared documents to lawyers and originators to make changes and track changes to shared documents;

d) the host site computer having a lawyer management module, and using the lawyer management module to provide:

i. a display of biographical information of participating lawyers to originators;

ii. an interactive display with registration and login functions to lawyers;

iii. an interactive display showing lawyers the option of accepting or rejecting proposed engagements with originators;

e) the host site computer having a nonjudicial resolution module, and using the nonjudicial resolution module for providing:

i. an interactive display for registration and login functions to arbitrators, lawyers and originators;

ii. the display of all relevant documents to the arbitrators;

iii. the delivery of briefs from lawyers and originators to arbitrators;

iv. an escrow account to hold any assets or fees subject to the arbitration proceeding.