NAAJA’s Maxine Carlton retires after decades of ‘working in two worlds’
FOR Maxine Carlton, bridging the gap between the judiciary and Aboriginal legal aid clients is like ‘working in two worlds’
Northern Territory
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FOR Maxine Carlton, bridging the gap between the judiciary and Aboriginal legal aid clients is like “working in two worlds”.
But after a long career of helping Aboriginal people access social justice for the past 25 years, Ms Carlton is moving onto retirement.
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As a senior client service officer at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, Ms Carlton has assisted thousands of Aboriginal people access justice.
“The best part of my job is bridging the gap of understanding the court language for our mob and helping lawyers understand our customs and our culture,” Ms Carlton said.
“I find it so fulfilling to come home knowing I’ve helped a family to understand what's going on.”
Ms Carlton was awarded the NT Human Rights Awards ‘Fitzgerald’s’ Justice Award in 2019 for helping people access justice.
With hundreds of diverse clients navigating the justice system throughout Central Australia, Ms Carlton thinks it would be a “hogwash” without the work of client service officers.
Along with other client service officers, Ms Carlton has assisted and guided many lawyers, Magistrates and Judges by providing relevant information regarding Aboriginal law, culture, custom and tradition which may affect a client’s case.
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“My great memories will be of meeting lawyers practically from all around Australia and working with everyone from NAAJA and CAALAS,” she said.
Originally published as NAAJA’s Maxine Carlton retires after decades of ‘working in two worlds’