尼泊爾,科技之花在喜馬拉雅山旁綻開

秘塔視野 | 尼泊爾,科技之花在喜馬拉雅山旁綻開

原文:Atificial Lawyer

翻譯:秘塔機器速翻

編者按:尼泊爾被聯合國列為世界上最不發達的44個國家之一,如受訪者所說,這裡裡的法律產業甚至還處於“原始”狀態。然而,在這個喜馬拉雅山旁邊的內陸小國,卻有那麼一群人,希望將最先進的法律科技引入這個國度,搭建起法律服務提供者與需求者之間的橋樑。

Artificial Lawyer has always sought provide a global perspective and is a strong believer that legal tech knows no borders. So, it was great to catch up with Kailash Panday, founder of LexpertEase, one of the first legal tech companies to emerge in the Himalayan nation of Nepal.

人工智能律師一直在尋求提供一個全球性的視角,並且堅信法律技術是無國界的。所以,很高興能採訪到 KailashPanday, LexpertEase的創始人。 LexpertEase是喜馬拉雅山國家尼泊爾最早出現的法律科技公司之一。

In this interview we discuss what his collaboration and legal resources platform does; the current state of the legal market in Nepal; and the future for legal tech there.

在這次訪談中,我們討論了他的合作和法律資源平臺的作用;尼泊爾法律市場的現狀;以及尼泊爾法律科技的未來。

First, can you tell the readers what your company does?

首先,你能告訴讀者你的公司是做什麼的嗎?

LexpertEase is Nepal's first and only legal tech platform that provides various legal solutions in a simple, transparent and cost effective manner through a network of verified lawyers.

LexpertEase是尼泊爾第一個也是唯一的法律科技平臺,通過一個經過認證的律師網絡以簡單、透明和低成本的方式提供各種法律解決方案。

We plan to develop LexpertEase as the 'Law Firm of the Future', focusing on making the legal service delivery process simple, effective and accessible to everyone.

我們計劃將 LexpertEase發展成為"未來律師事務所",致力於使提供法律服務的過程變得簡單、有效並且人人都能獲得。

We aim to be a platform for legal talent around the world, allowing lawyers to maintain their independent practice and collaborate through the platform for complex transactions and matters under the common brand of LexpertEase.

我們的目標是成為世界各地法律人才的平臺,讓律師保持獨立執業,並通過平臺合作處理 LexpertEase的共同品牌下的複雜交易和事項。

Having said that, our focus is always on the customer side, while empowering the service providers to expand their practice and collaboration beyond territorial jurisdictions. At present the platform provides the following:

話雖如此,我們的重點始終是在客戶方面,同時為(法律)服務提供商在境外法域擴大其實踐和合作賦能。目前,該平臺提供以下服務:

Allows users to ask legal queries and get them answered from the lawyers on the platform

1. 允許用戶詢問法律問題,並從平臺上的律師那裡獲得答案

Allows lawyers to create a profile and collaborate with lawyers across geographies

2. 允許律師創建個人資料,並與跨地域的律師合作

Allows users to book an appointment with lawyers

3. 允許用戶預訂與律師的會見

Provides a host of legal resources including laws, regulations, case laws, court applications templates etc.

4. 提供法律法規、判例法、訴訟文書模板等一系列法律資源

Provides legal updates

5. 提供法律更新服務

秘塔視野 | 尼泊爾,科技之花在喜馬拉雅山旁綻開

Why did you start this company?

你為什麼創辦這家公司?

It was because of a lack of collaboration among legal professionals. Scalability issues in the traditional firm set up are also one of the pain points for a law practice here.

這是因為法律專業人員之間缺乏合作。傳統公司中的擴展性問題也是這裡法律實踐的痛處之一。

秘塔視野 | 尼泊爾,科技之花在喜馬拉雅山旁綻開

Kailash Panday, LexpertEase創始人

Even in a small country like Nepal, we have clients that require us to initiate legal cases at the lower courts scattered all over the country, which calls for collaboration.

即使在像尼泊爾這樣的小國,我們也有客戶要求我們在分散在全國各地的下級法院提起法律訴訟,這需要合作。

However, there is no system where the expertise or experience of a lawyer can be verified and it solely depends upon the recommendation of someone we know from a limited network.

然而,沒有一種制度可以核實律師的專長或經驗,它完全取決於我們從有限的網絡中認識的人的建議。

This is when we thought about expanding and enrolling lawyers in our network by expanding in a traditional way, which again required capital investments and having those lawyers on our roll required regular outlays. In our further research this was not only the problem for a service provider like us, but also for the service seekers.

當我們考慮通過以傳統方式擴展來擴大和招募律師進入我們的網絡時,又需要資本投資,而要讓這些律師加入我們的行列則需要定期支出。在我們的進一步研究中,這不僅是像我們這樣的服務提供者的問題,也是服務尋求者的問題。

Either they had to go to a big name lawyer, even for petty cases and pay a hefty fee, or they had to be satisfied with a lawyer (who may or may not have the expertise in a particular area) to handle a case (usually recommended by friends and family).

他們要麼去找一位名聲顯赫的律師,即使是小案子,也要交高額費用;要麼就只能滿足於能找到的律師(他們可能在某一特定領域有專長,也可能不具備)來處理(通常是親友推薦的)。

Not only at a domestic level, this problem was persistent on an international level. There are referral networks globally, but they are either too expensive or ineffective. This is when we planned to explore the use of technology to transform the way people access legal services and the way lawyers deliver their services.

不僅在國內層面,這一問題在國際層面也同樣存在。全球各地都有轉介網絡,但它們要麼太昂貴,要麼沒作用。這也是為什麼我們計劃探索利用技術來改變人們獲得法律服務的方式和律師提供服務的方式。

Legal tech and the Himalayas – that sounds like a beautiful combo – but the local market faces some systemic challenges.

法律技術和喜馬拉雅山——聽起來像一個美麗的組合——但當地市場面臨一些系統性挑戰。

秘塔視野 | 尼泊爾,科技之花在喜馬拉雅山旁綻開

What is the legal scene like there? What are the biggest problems?

那裡的法律場景是什麼樣的?最大的問題是什麼?

Considering that the legal sector is one of the most resistant to change, due to its conservative nature, we can characterise the legal scene in Nepal as extremely conservative, or I dare say, rudimentary.

考慮到法律部門是最抵制變革的部門之一,由於其保守的性質,我們可以將尼泊爾的法律場景描述為極端保守,或者我敢說,非常原始。

If I had to put a finger to it, in addition to the generic problems that lawyers face everywhere by virtue of their professional commitments, Nepalese lawyers in particular are at a disadvantaged position.

如果非要我直言不諱,除了律師因其專業承諾而在世界各地面臨的普遍問題之外,尼泊爾律師尤其處於不利地位。

There are no top-class universities that produce the required number of lawyers, much to the dismay of students who have a keen interest in law. Furthermore, once they graduate the job prospects are dire.

沒有一流的大學培養出所需數量的律師,這讓對法律有濃厚興趣的學生大為沮喪。此外,一旦他們畢業,就業前景慘淡。

Besides a few top law firms in the capital city, Kathmandu, new lawyers do not get to experience the level of professionalism that is necessary for their own goals and development.

除了首都加德滿都的幾家頂級律師事務所外,新的律師無法體驗到他們自己的目標和發展所需要的專業水準。

Likewise, the clients are also at a disadvantage due to the same causes. Legal education – and by extension – legal culture, has not developed to maturity in Nepal, both at the professional level and at the more general level.

類似的,由於同樣的原因,客戶也處於劣勢。尼泊爾的法律教育——也可以說是法律文化——在專業層面和更一般層面上都尚未發展到成熟。

秘塔視野 | 尼泊爾,科技之花在喜馬拉雅山旁綻開

How do you see the future of legal tech in Nepal?

你如何看待尼泊爾法律科技的未來?

Based on our research, we are confident that the future of legal tech is challenging and at the same time promising.

基於我們的研究,我們相信法律科技的未來是具有挑戰性的,同時也是充滿希望的。

As an early mover, we are aware of the risks and rewards. We are currently looking to expand our network and seeking to engage corporate professionals and consultants. We are in the process of partnering with the top lawyers, top law firms, top chartered accountants' firm and renowned experts in Nepal to serve our clients more effectively and efficiently.

作為一個先行者,我們充分意識到風險和回報共存。我們目前正在尋求擴大我們的網絡,並尋求聘請企業專業人士和顧問。我們正在與尼泊爾的頂級律師、頂級律師事務所、頂級特許會計師事務所和知名專家合作,以更有效、更高效地為我們的客戶服務。

So, in a nutshell, the future definitely looks bright, and I am confident that with emerging firms and tech companies, this sector will continue to grow at a steady pace.

因此,簡而言之,未來肯定是光明的,我相信,隨著新興公司和科技公司的出現,這一領域將繼續穩步增長。

Having said that, I do hold a few reservations given the market size and difficulties regarding raising capital. We may see a foreign legal tech player enter the market and completely sweep the floor (which seems less likely because of the market size), or we may see a few Nepalese companies like ours compete in this niche marketplace.

話雖如此,但鑑於市場規模和籌資困難,我還是持保留意見。我們可以看到,外國法律科技公司進入這個市場,徹底掃蕩(這似乎不太可能,因為市場規模較小),或者我們將看到像我們這樣的一些尼泊爾公司在這個利基市場上競爭。

We are also exploring the use of advanced technologies like AI and Machine Learning to empower lawyers and enhance access to justice.

我們還在探索利用人工智能和機器學習等先進技術增強律師的權能,並加強訴諸司法的機會。

Overall, I am optimistic about the prospects.

總的來說,我對前景感到樂觀。


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