National Citizens Aid Service (Makko Oko)

National Citizens Aid Service

Agency overview
Formed	20 November 2022 (2022-11-20)
Jurisdiction	Makko Oko
Agency executive	Mattie Overton, Secretary
Parent agency	Ministry of Justice
Website	aidservice.moj.gov.mk

The National Citizens Aid Service, also referred to as NCAS, is a government legal aid agency in the Empire Of Makko Oko under the directive and control of the Ministry Of Justice. Its mission is to provide free legal aid to those in need, which is in line with the Constitution of Makko Oko.

The agency is the only government-funded and sponsored free legal aid available to citizens within the nation. In addition, it's the only guaranteed legal aid that the nation's judiciary can provide, with external legal aid and advice not available to be assigned by the courts.

History

The National Citizens Aid Service was formed under the Ministry Of Justice 2 days after the 5th Revision to the nation's Constitution, which modified Article 19 under Section 4 to grant a constitutional right to free legal aid to any citizen of the Empire Of Makko Oko. The agency is one of the only ones established via the Constitution, and not by statute or by the order of the Emperor. The first Secretary of NCAS was Mattie Overton, who until her appointment was a senior MOJ policy expert.

Legal Aid Programs

NCAS offers multiple programs that expand on the scope of what NCAS is constitutionally required to provide.

International Criminal Legal Aid Program

The International Criminal Legal Aid Program (ICLAP) is a comprehensive legal assistance program designed to provide free legal representation to citizens facing criminal charges in foreign nations. The program was created on December 12th, 2022 and it is administered by the National Citizens Aid Service (NCAS), a government legal aid agency in the Empire of Makko Oko, and is funded by the Ministry of Justice.

To apply for assistance through the International Criminal Legal Aid Program, individuals must first complete an application form and provide all necessary documentation, including proof of citizenship, financial need and reasoning for being in a foreign nation. The application and approval process is rigorous and may take several weeks to complete.

Once an application is approved, an NCAS legal representative will be assigned to the case and will work closely with the individual to build a strong defense strategy. The legal representative will also provide ongoing support and guidance throughout the legal proceedings.

The International Criminal Legal Aid Program is a vital resource for citizens facing criminal charges abroad, and is committed to providing high-quality legal representation to those in need.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for assistance through the International Criminal Legal Aid Program, individuals must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a citizen of Makko Oko.
2. Be facing criminal charges in a nation outside of Makko Oko.
3. Demonstrate financial need.
4. Have exhausted all other legal aid options, including external legal aid and advice OR the nation's government does not guarantee an equal or equitable justice.

Civil Mediator Program

The Civil Mediator Program (CMP) is a legal assistance program designed to provide impartial government mediation in civil cases to help prevent such cases from entering the courts. The program was launched on July 5th, 2023 and is administered by the National Citizens Aid Service (NCAS), a government legal aid agency in the Empire of Makko Oko, and is funded by the Ministry of Justice. The program is available to everybody, including non-citizens, as long as they reside within the Empire.

Use of the program has fees associated with it, with filing an application for a case costing a flat $130 SLO's or $300 SLO's for priority processing. Non-citizen filers have to pay an additional fee of $45 SLO's on top of the filing fee. There are no other fees for using the program, and no fees for cancelling or getting denied. A filer can optionally choose for all fees to be split in mediation should the case be approved.

Once an application has been approved, a case will be created and a date for a preliminary hearing will be set by an NCAS legal representative.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to use the Civil Mediator Program, individuals must meet the following criteria:

1. All parties have agreed to mediation
2. Not mediating criminal charges
3. All parties must reside within the Empire

Secretary of NCAS

The Secretary of the National Citizens Aid Service is the executive and head of the agency, overseeing the duties and functions carried out by the agency, both constitutionally required and otherwise. Appointed Secretaries are typically people with legal experience, rather as a lawyer, as a prosecutor, or even just working for the government in general. The Secretary, along with all NCAS employees, are considered to be government officials and employees, in addition to MOJ employees specifically.

Powers Of The Secretary

The Secretary of the National Citizens Aid Service holds all of the power and authority within the agency, being the sole individual to approve any requests for legal aid. Some of the other powers that the Secretary holds are:

• Hiring and firing of NCAS employees
• Supervising over and/or directly providing legal aid to a citizen
• Administrating, managing, supervising and creating or discontinuing NCAS programs
• Ability to change NCAS policies, including legal aid requirements
• Ability to form commissions regarding the legal aid process

History

Secretaries of NCAS

Name	Start year	End year	Regime
Mattie Overton	November 20th, 2022	Present	Conall Solis