DR ALBIN SMRDEL

Dr Albin Smrdel is the Assistant Secretary, Legal Assistance Branch, of the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department. He has been in this position since the start of 2007. He is responsible for the management and administration of Australian Government legal assistance policy and programs.

In particular, he has responsibility for administering Australian Government funding and policy for the Commonwealth legal aid program, as well as the miscellany of Australian Government legal assistance schemes providing direct financial assistance to people requiring help to address matters involving Commonwealth law (and legal aid is not available).

Dr Smrdel has been involved with a number of policy and funding legal assistance issues, including responsibility for the Commonwealth’s Review of the Community Legal Services Program.

Dr Smrdel was most recently with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, where he was a senior adviser in the Government Division. Policy issues in which he had significant involvement included various bankruptcy, classification and Commonwealth criminal law reforms.

He is an organic chemist by training. His introduction to the law came through its interface with science while working with IP Australia, the Australian Government agency responsible for administering patent and trade marks rights.