The largest Indigenous legal organisation in the country has quietly appointed four new directors after a challenging 18 months.

The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA), which last month was forced to apologise "without reservation" to ousted chief executive, Priscilla Atkins, appointed Carol Dowling, Bobby Wunungmurra, Theresa Roe, and Joyce Taylor on November 27.

The new number of directors marks a dramatic decrease for the organisation, with an audit for the financial year ending June 30, 2023, showing 14 directors encompassing different areas across the NT.

"NAAJA has commenced work on modernising its constitution, which will include a review of the size and structure of the board. Currently, up to 16 directors can serve on NAAJA's board," the organisation said in a statement in August.

It is understood these announcements came at the AGM held by the organisation last week, with NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby saying: "While we await formal confirmation of the outcomes, we expect the entire board has stepped down to enable a fresh start".

One of those directors was Arrernte man Hugh Woodbury, with NAAJA facing criticism for appointing him chairperson despite being aware of his previous domestic violence charge. There was no conviction recorded for Mr Woodbury, who pleaded guilty to the charges from 2020.

He stood down months later as chair, but with NAAJA releasing a statement saying he would remain as director. However, according to both their own website, and the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profit Commission, Mr Woodbury is no longer a director.

The same statement at the end of August said the organisation had "commenced changes to its board as it embarks on the next phase of an ongoing program designed to strengthen governance and operations".

It also said several directors have advised they would step down.

At the time, The Australian reported these included board members Vernon Hill, Leisa Sjaardema, Nancy Jeffrey, and Shirley Garlett all stood down, along with company secretary Natalie Ellis.

During this period, former acting deputy chief executive, Leeanne Caton - who stood down in June after only five months in the role - began circulating a petition among current and former NAAJA staff calling for a vote of no confidence in the board.

The petition noted there was a real worry Aboriginal children will be further entrenched in the justice system after the new NT government announced plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 10.

"Without NAAJA, clients will be dealt with by Non-Aboriginal Legal service providers," it said.

The organisation has been outspoken in their criticism of punitive policies of multiple Northern Territory governments, arguing a focus on policing and prisons is causing an incarceration crisis.

NAAJA have also gone through six acting chief executives since the dismissal of Ms Atkins in 2022, who the Federal Court ruled in June had been unlawfully sacked.

Last week, in their public apology to Ms Atkins, NAAJA confirmed she was still the chief executive.

"For the avoidance of doubt, her employment is not subject to any suspension or ongoing disciplinary investigation," the NAAJA spokesperson said.

"NAAJA wholly resiles from any express or implicit findings of wrongdoing made by it against Ms Atkins in the lead up to her purported and unlawful dismissal."

National Indigenous Times has contacted NAAJA for comment.