Whether it’s as simple as signing an employment contract or as complicated as visa issues, most people will need the help of lawyers at some point in their lives. But a majority either don’t have access or are put off from seeking advice by the cost and complexity.
But what if part of your benefits package at work included access to a lawyer? That’s exactly what French startup Ekie is doing.
The company started off as Avostart, cofounder Raphaël Jabol says, offering its legal platform direct to individuals. But during the pandemic, Jabol realised a shift in business model was necessary.
“When Covid-19 occurred, legal problems arose more frequently than usual and the legal framework was moving almost every day. We had companies coming to us, like Airbnb, telling us that their customers needed legal help but they didn’t have a service to provide it to them,” he explains.
Some of these issues included claiming refunds, problems around travel cancellations, making insurance claims and complying with constantly changing quarantine rules.
Jabol saw an opportunity to work directly with businesses to help either their customers or employees, and launched its business-to-business service a year and a half ago.
“Legal [advice] is a pillar of our society yet it’s still hard for everyone to access legal solutions. Legal problems concern everybody and it generates a lot of stress and inequality, it may impact your work,” he says.
“Legal [advice] is a pillar of our society yet it’s...
Dozens claimed returning to homophobic Bangladesh would put their lives at risk. British immigration police are cracking down on a suspected criminal network believed to be behind dozens of fake as...