Java Reference
In-Depth Information
nonmeaningful combinations of column values. By handling the situation through the
rate code, you can use just one table, conforming to the requirements of the fourth
normal form.
The tables also meet the requirements of the fifth normal form, which are as fo llows:
The table must be in fourth normal form.
It must be impossible to break down a table into smaller tables unless those tables logically have
the same primary key as the original.
By separating address information into a table separate from the Contacts and
Clients tables, you can see that if this separation is necessary to conform to the fifth
normal form. The addresses do not logically share the same primary key as either
contacts or clients.
Matter or Project Tables
Having designed the simpler tables, it is time to move on to handling the Client Matter,
or Project, Tables. These tables encapsulate the information specific to the service
the law firm is performing for the client. As such, they contain the following:
Matter Data
Name
Client reference number
Law firm reference number
Law firm managing contact
Law firm billing contact
Client primary contact
Billing Data
Billing type
Electronic funds transfer agreement number
Tax rate information
Fee sharing information
Discount agreements information
Invoice currency and payment terms
Invoice Data
Date
Due date
Amount
Staffing
The Matter Table and Billing Rates Table are separate; in an ongoing relationship
with a client, a law firm may establish a billing agreement that applies to a number of
individual matters, so billing data is not strictly specific to a single matter. Conversely,
a billing agreement may be renegotiated during the life of a matter.
