North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency Ltd

 LEGAL ADVICE

 Overview of Services

The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency Ltd. (NAAJA) is non-profit private company that was established on 1 February 2006.  The object of the Company is to provide high quality and culturally appropriate legal aid services for Aborigines in need of benevolent relief (by reason of poverty, sickness, suffering, distress, misfortune, disability, destitution or helplessness) within the Northern Territory.

 We work towards:

  • Gaining justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  • Keeping Aboriginal culture, traditions and law strong.
  • Achieving self-determination

 We commit to:

  • Community control of the services.
  • Valuing the contribution of staff and director members
  • Working together to achieve the best results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  • Continuous improvement of our services.

Our offices are located across the top end of the Northern Territory in Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Darwin. We provide advice and referrals to everyone and in some cases, ongoing casework depending on whether the matter has merit as per legal aid funding requirements.

The following is a list of matter types that NAAJA can assist with. Assistance is subject to eligibility. We can help community members with advice and assistance in most areas of law.

Criminal Law Assistance

  • All criminal matters, including Duty Lawyers at the Darwin and Katherine Magistrates’ Court.
  • NAAJA Lawyers and Client Services also attend the Northern Circuit Bush Court sittings in communities.

Civil Assistance

  • Victims of Crimes Compensation
  • Child in need of care
  • Property Forfeiture
  • Debt and Consumer
  • Adult Guardianship
  • Mental Health
  • Motor Accident Compensation
  • Employment
  • Coronial Inquests
  • Personal Injury
  • Professional Negligence
  • Wills, Inheritance & Power of Attorney

Family Law Assistance

  • Child Support
  • Contact
  • Residence

 IF YOU ARE ARRESTED

  DO ask why you are being arrested
 DO give your name and address
 DO ask the police for a telephone so you can contact Aboriginal Legal Aid
 DO ask for bail. If refused, ask police to telephone a Magistrate to apply for bail
  DO NOT resist arrest
 DO NOT be abusive or disorderly
 DO NOT answer any questions except to give your name and address
 DO NOT give or sign a statement
 DO NOT plead guilty, or anything, until you have spoken to a solicitor
 

NAAJA operates an after hours legal service. A Solicitor is always ‘on call’ after hours and on the weekends. If you get picked up by police you can ask them for the after hours telephone number and speak to a Solicitor.

You can call NAAJA for free on
1800 898 251
 (free call within the Northern Territory only)