原文：Atificial Lawyer

翻译：秘塔机器速翻

编者按：尼泊尔被联合国列为世界上最不发达的44个国家之一，如受访者所说，这里里的法律产业甚至还处于“原始”状态。然而，在这个喜马拉雅山旁边的内陆小国，却有那么一群人，希望将最先进的法律科技引入这个国度，搭建起法律服务提供者与需求者之间的桥梁。

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.

人工智能律师一直在寻求提供一个全球性的视角，并且坚信法律技术是无国界的。所以，很高兴能采访到 KailashPanday, LexpertEase的创始人。 LexpertEase是喜马拉雅山国家尼泊尔最早出现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.

在这次访谈中，我们讨论了他的合作和法律资源平台的作用;尼泊尔法律市场的现状;以及尼泊尔法律科技的未来。

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

首先，你能告诉读者你的公司是做什么的吗?

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是尼泊尔第一个也是唯一的法律科技平台，通过一个经过认证的律师网络以简单、透明和低成本的方式提供各种法律解决方案。

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.

我们计划将 LexpertEase发展成为"未来律师事务所"，致力于使提供法律服务的过程变得简单、有效并且人人都能获得。

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.

我们的目标是成为世界各地法律人才的平台，让律师保持独立执业，并通过平台合作处理 LexpertEase的共同品牌下的复杂交易和事项。

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:

话虽如此，我们的重点始终是在客户方面，同时为（法律）服务提供商在境外法域扩大其实践和合作赋能。目前，该平台提供以下服务:

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

1. 允许用户询问法律问题，并从平台上的律师那里获得答案

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

2. 允许律师创建个人资料，并与跨地域的律师合作

Allows users to book an appointment with lawyers

3. 允许用户预订与律师的会见

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

4. 提供法律法规、判例法、诉讼文书模板等一系列法律资源

Provides legal updates

5. 提供法律更新服务

Why did you start this company?

你为什么创办这家公司?

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.

这是因为法律专业人员之间缺乏合作。传统公司中的扩展性问题也是这里法律实践的痛处之一。

Kailash Panday, LexpertEase创始人

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.

即使在像尼泊尔这样的小国，我们也有客户要求我们在分散在全国各地的下级法院提起法律诉讼，这需要合作。

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，没有一种制度可以核实律师的专长或经验，它完全取决于我们从有限的网络中认识的人的建议。

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.

当我们考虑通过以传统方式扩展来扩大和招募律师进入我们的网络时，又需要资本投资，而要让这些律师加入我们的行列则需要定期支出。在我们的进一步研究中，这不仅是像我们这样的服务提供者的问题，也是服务寻求者的问题。

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).

他们要么去找一位名声显赫的律师，即使是小案子，也要交高额费用;要么就只能满足于能找到的律师(他们可能在某一特定领域有专长，也可能不具备)来处理(通常是亲友推荐的)。

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.

不仅在国内层面，这一问题在国际层面也同样存在。全球各地都有转介网络，但它们要么太昂贵，要么没作用。这也是为什么我们计划探索利用技术来改变人们获得法律服务的方式和律师提供服务的方式。

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

法律技术和喜马拉雅山——听起来像一个美丽的组合——但当地市场面临一些系统性挑战。

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

那里的法律场景是什么样的?最大的问题是什么?

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.

考虑到法律部门是最抵制变革的部门之一，由于其保守的性质，我们可以将尼泊尔的法律场景描述为极端保守，或者我敢说，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.

如果非要我直言不讳，除了律师因其专业承诺而在世界各地面临的普遍问题之外，尼泊尔律师尤其处于不利地位。

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.

没有一流的大学培养出所需数量的律师，这让对法律有浓厚兴趣的学生大为沮丧。此外，一旦他们毕业，就业前景惨淡。

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.

除了首都加德满都的几家顶级律师事务所外，新的律师无法体验到他们自己的目标和发展所需要的专业水准。

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.

类似的，由于同样的原因，客户也处于劣势。尼泊尔的法律教育——也可以说是法律文化——在专业层面和更一般层面上都尚未发展到成熟。

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

你如何看待尼泊尔法律科技的未来?

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

基于我们的研究，我们相信法律科技的未来是具有挑战性的，同时也是充满希望的。

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.

作为一个先行者，我们充分意识到风险和回报共存。我们目前正在寻求扩大我们的网络，并寻求聘请企业专业人士和顾问。我们正在与尼泊尔的顶级律师、顶级律师事务所、顶级特许会计师事务所和知名专家合作，以更有效、更高效地为我们的客户服务。

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，简而言之，未来肯定是光明的，我相信，随着新兴公司和科技公司的出现，这一领域将继续稳步增长。

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.

话虽如此，但鉴于市场规模和筹资困难，我还是持保留意见。我们可以看到，外国法律科技公司进入这个市场，彻底扫荡(这似乎不太可能，因为市场规模较小)，或者我们将看到像我们这样的一些尼泊尔公司在这个利基市场上竞争。

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

我们还在探索利用人工智能和机器学习等先进技术增强律师的权能，并加强诉诸司法的机会。

Overall, I am optimistic about the prospects.

总的来说，我对前景感到乐观。