A consortium of UK lawyers has unveiled a proposed standard e-billing form designed to interface with a range of different client computing systems and cut inefficiency.

The team from the Legal IT Innovators Group (LITIG) has been working on the standard for the last six months to meet the problem of growing demands from clients for billing information, and the fact that this information is being provided by firms in different formats.

The LITIG team has drawn up the draft using the US 1998 Legal Electronic Data Exchange System.

It has attempted to translate this for the UK market to create a simple standard for use by the widest possible range of law firms.

It is now putting the draft through a consultation period lasting until 15 December, and lawyers and clients are invited to comment.

Andrew Dey, projects and operations manager of Barclays Bank legal team and a member of the LITIG team, said: 'This project is absolutely vital to major corporates going forward; without it we run the risk of a proliferation of different formats which we will never be able to stop.'

Another LITIG team member, Derek Southall, the head of strategic development and a partner with Birmingham-based Wragge & Co, said: 'This is a fundamental project to both clients and panel firms.

It is important that we are united as an industry and have a standard which is available where required.'

LITIG was formed last year and has 21 members from 20 law firms - including Beechcroft Wansbroughs, Bond Pearce, Browne Jacobson, Eversheds, Hugh James Manches, Masons, Mills & Reeve, Shoosmiths, and Australian law firm, Blake Dawson.

The group meets four times a year to research e-government initiatives, encourage law firms and clients to adopt e-billing standards and to agree best practice on e-mail use.

Those wishing to become members of LITIG - membership costs 500 for an annual subscription and acceptance of membership is at the discretion of existing members - or to see the consultation paper, should visit: www.litig.org.

Jeremy Fleming