LEGAL Counselling Services

CONTEXT

Handicap International is running its projects under the new name of Humanity & Inclusion (HI). Outraged by the injustice faced by people with disabilities and by vulnerable populations, we aspire to a world of solidarity and inclusion, enriched by our differences, where everyone can live in dignity. HI is an international, independent and impartial non-profit organization that intervenes in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside persons with disabilities and vulnerable populations, HI takes action and takes notice, to meet their basic needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

In Palestine, since 1996, HI has been supporting local partners and stakeholders to respond effectively, within the framework of both inclusive local development and quality service provision, to the needs of persons with disabilities to access protection, education, health, and livelihood programs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUIRED SERVICE PROVISION 

The legal counselling services will provide Handicap International with lawyer/s to represent the organization as its advocate and legal advisor during the consultation process of Handicap International, including providing the following tasks:

• Lawyer/s will represent HANDICAP INT’L as its legal advisor.
• To draft, assist, or take part in drafting all correspondence related to HANDICAP INT’L’s work with Ministries and official departments in Israel and Palestine.
• To review all correspondence related to HANDICAP INT’L’s work with Ministries and official departments in Israel and Palestine.
• Lawyer/s will provide legal advice and consultation on issues related to all HANDICAP INT’L’s work with Ministries and official departments in Israel and Palestine.
• Lawyer/s will provide HANDICAP INT’L’s with the relevant legal articles when needed related to its work in Israel and Palestine, and if requested to go and get it with full clarification from the Ministries and official departments in Israel and Palestine, furthermore to share timely the latest updates on the laws relevant to HI e.g. Labor law, social security, income tax, registration on the country of operations…etc. 
• Lawyer/s to review and/or draft employment contracts for all categories of employees. 
• Lawyer/s to review an internal regulatory framework for application in HANDICAP INT’L's work force in order to codify the rules and regulations of the workplace in Israel and Palestine, if and when requested by HANDICAP INT’L.
• Lawyer/s to draft and/or review lease or sale agreements for properties to be leased and/or purchased by HANDICAP INT’L relating to its work and vocational practice license.
• Lawyer/s to provide legal advice on issues relating to Social Security, Income Tax and General Sales Tax in Israel and Palestine. In addition, legal advice relating to financial regulations relevant to the work of NGOs and coordination Office, e.g. inflation and cost of living information.
• To provide HANDICAP INT’L with advice and opinions which HANDICAP INT’L may require from time to time in connection with the general operation of HANDICAP INT’L's work under both registration, and on all matters involving disputes and demanding legal advice through lawyer/s, which may arise from time to time for the work in Israel and Palestine.
• Lawyer/s will attend and/or participate in meetings, negotiations and discussions where legal opinion is required, upon HANDICAP INT’L’s request.
• Travel & Out-of-pocket Expenses: Legal Counsellor may advance on behalf of HANDICAP INT’L (as needed) any and all out-of-pocket expenses, including travel expenses, plus a per diem fee (if needed) according to HANDICAP INT’L grid. 

LEGAL COUNSELLOR PROFILE

• The Legal Counsellor must be authorized and licensed to practice in the Israel and Palestine and be capable of applying the agreed auditing standards. 
• Law Degree with specialization in contract law, employment law or related field; 
• At least 5 years relevant experience in providing legal services at least five 3 of which should be in the area of Labor laws in Israel and Palestine; 
• Familiarity with, as well as experience concerning international non-governmental organizations; 
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• The Legal Counsellor should have adequate staff, with appropriate professional qualifications and suitable experience, including experience in legal support of organizations comparable in nature, size, and complexity to Handicap International whose legal counselling they are to undertake.
• To this end, the legal counsellor is required to provide CV of the lawyers who will provide the opinions and reports, together with the CVs of managers, supervisors, and key personnel likely to be involved in the legal counselling work. These CVs should include details of legal counselling  carried out by these staff, including ongoing assignments. 

SERVICE DURATION AND LOCATION

• Start date: Dec 1st     2020
• Mission end date: 1 year from the contract signature date.
• Mission timetable: 

You are invited to submit a proposal and a work plan to run the legal counselling services described in this ToR. Proposals should address, among other things:

• Statement of relevant experience i.e. similar assignments executed in/under execution in the last five years; and to which extent they will conform to Handicap International requirements of the legal counselling desired during the 1-year service contract. 
• The manner in which the legal counsellor proposes to address any legal requirements relating to legal issues or to which they may be implicitly bound by contractual obligations of Handicap International.
• Procedural requirements for certain verification procedures. 
• Specific actions required on the part of the employer (e.g., access to computer systems and records, disclosures). 
• Discussions before signing the opinion and report on any matters arising from the legal counselling, and with whom these discussions would be held.
• The timetable for provision of legal opinions and reports. 

Service location: 

The legal counselling services will take place to Handicap International oPt mission office in Jerusalem and Ramallah. 

REPORT

Number of Reports: 

As per requested legal counselling.

Submission: 

To be mentioned in the proposal and work plan submitted in response to this ToR.

Language: All documents submitted shall be in both English & Arabic languages. 

RESOURCE PERSON

• Within the framework of the defined legal counselling services, the legal counsellor will be in collaboration with Handicap International’s teams and in particular with HR/ Administrative Manager who will be the point of contact. 

BUDGET

Legal counselling proposal shall contain the financial offer details of the requested services fitting with the below criteria:

• Price quote shall be in English and in ILS currency.
• Prices shall be inclusive of VAT.
• Delivery timeframe & payment terms shall be clear and mentioned in the quote fitting with the start/end dates proposed.
• Price quote shall be signed and stamped.
• Validity period of the price quote.

Please, send your applications before November 19th, 2020 to the following email [email protected]  the message’s subject must be:  Legal Counselling Services / XX proposal 

Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.