Introduction of legal technology will strengthen public trust in the legal institutions’

Isfundiar Kasuri is the founder at Vakeel Online and is an experienced team leader working in Pakistan’s ed-tech and legal-tech space. Skilled in stakeholder management, team leadership, he specializes in connecting the people who create social impact, across the various tiers of stakeholders. He has experience in project management, working with international NGOs, programme implementation, and government liaison. Isfundiar Kasuri is a strong programme and project management professional with over a decade of experience in the humanitarian and development sectors of Pakistan.

Following are the edited transcripts of a recent conversation of BR Research with Isfundiar Kasuri:

BR Research: What is the vision and idea behind Vakeel Online? When was it formed and what has been the progress so far?

Isfundiar Kasuri: Vakeel Online was built to serve a single purpose, to transform access to justice for millions of Pakistanis, to enable them to access quality legal service at rates they can afford and to improve public trust in legal institutions. The project’s central aim is an improved human rights regime, greater transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the legal system, and to bring Pakistan’s justice system closer to fulfilling the requirements for UN SDG 16.3.

In some ways, the initiative’s success has exceeded our own expectations. In terms of growth, engagement has grown exponentially with time. Vakeel Online now exists across multiple social media platforms and has a website and a digital app. While the concept has been demonstrably successful, institutional resistance to change (internal and external) pose the greatest challenge to achieving the goal of building a vibrant digital legal marketplace that becomes the digital legal content hub for Pakistan.

BRR: How would you describe the importance of technology in the legal system? What kind of reforms do you think technology and innovation can bring in the legal system of the country?

IK: Technology is a game changer for Pakistan. Whether it is in the shape of a legal marketplace that allows litigants to find legal representation at rates they can afford, through the introduction of online Alternate Dispute Resolution platforms, Case Management Systems, Digitalization of the Courts, Online Adjournments or e-Courts, the possibilities are truly endless