1. Background

The Legal Aid Society (LAS) is a not-for-profit organization working on its mission to connect vulnerable & disempowered end users of justice with effective and expedient services for justice delivery. LAS’s interventions have been aimed at increasing access to justice for poor & marginalized communities, particularly women, across the province of Sindh and at the Federal level.

In line with the mission of expediting justice delivery, LAS is implementing a project to strengthen the State’s response to sexual violence as a technical partner, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of Pakistan, under the Awaaz II Program.

LAS initiated the project to provide technical assistance to the Government of Pakistan in improving Criminal Justice Actors’ response to sexual violence and to enhance coordination between stakeholders.

The consultant will be required to develop a Bench Book tailored for judges handling Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases. This resource will serve as a judicial reference guide, incorporating relevant case laws, legal principles, and best practices to ensure consistency and informed decision-making in GBV-related rulings.

B.     Scope of Consultancy Scope and Expected Outputs

The scope of work and corresponding outputs/deliverables will be as follows:

• Development of an initiation report including a detailed work plan, methodology, and outline for the bench book, collation of national and international case laws, 

• Conducting key informant interviews with GBV court judges, conducting regular meetings with LAS for technical overview and feedback, 

• Submission of a final benchbook. 

 C.    Project Timeline & Payment Schedule

 D.    Required expertise and qualifications

• Strong understanding of national and international legal frameworks on GBV, including case law analysis, 

• Proven ability to conduct legal research, compile case laws, and develop judicial reference materials, 

• Experience working with judges, legal practitioners, and GBV experts to validate legal materials, 

•  Ability to present complex legal principles in a clear, structured, and accessible manner.

•  Candidates must possess a law degree and 3-4 years of work experience corroborating the above skills. 

EEO Statement:

At LAS, our commitment to diversity and equal opportunity extends to all aspects of our work, including consulting engagements. We ensure that all qualified consultants are given fair consideration regardless of sex, age, race, color, creed, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. LAS is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone is treated equitably, acknowledged for their unique contributions, and encouraged to excel. We value and respect the diverse perspectives and experiences that each individual brings to our projects. Every member of the LAS team, including consultants, shares the responsibility of supporting and advancing a diverse and respectful work environment. 

Protection Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:

Legal Aid Society (LAS) is committed to the prevention and protection from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). LAS explicitly prohibits its
staff, associates, partners, consultants, or any other representatives associated with the delivery of its work from:

• Engaging in any form of sexual exploitation or abuse;
• Sexual activity with children (persons below the age of (18) irrespective of a mistaken belief of the age of the child which shall not amount to a defense);
• Exchange of money, employment, goods or services for sex, including sexual favors or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behavior, is prohibited. This includes any exchange of assistance that is due to beneficiaries of assistance;
• Sexual relationships between LAS staff and beneficiaries of assistance, since they are based on inherently unequal power dynamics,undermine the credibility and integrity of the work of LAS and are strongly discouraged.