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Privacy Policy

SMD Lawyers (SMD) collects your personal information to identify you and to provide our legal services to you or as otherwise permitted by law. Without this information, we may not be able to provide you with our legal services.

OUR COMMITMENT

We are committed to protecting the privacy of your Personal Information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

The Privacy Act details the Australian Privacy Principles that set minimum standards for how government agencies and private sector organisations such as SMD may collect, use, disclose, store, provide access to and correct Personal Information.

We are committed to complying with those Australian Privacy Principles.

Whenever using our website you should read the privacy policy.

PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

The Personal Information we collect depends upon the services you apply for or which we offer. In most cases the details we collect and store include:

  • your full name;

  • your contact details including your address, phone and fax numbers and email address;

  • your date of birth and gender; and

  • your bank account payment details.

We do not collect any sensitive Information.

Unless it is impracticable, you may interact with us anonymously or by using a pseudonym. For example, you may visit and browse through our website without having to reveal any of your Personal Information.

We collect your personal information in various ways including via the telephone, our website, hard copy forms or by email.

HOW WE COLLECT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

Whenever you deal with us we will collect your personal information directly from you unless it is unreasonable or impracticable for us to do so. In some cases we may collect your personal information from another party which may include our authorised representatives, another party involved in a claim or anyone you have authorised us to deal with us on your behalf.

WHY WE USE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

We collect Personal Information to provide or offer to you our legal services or as otherwise as permitted by law.

Those purposes include:

  • responding to an enquiry;

  • providing you with any legal assistance you request from us;

  • our quality assurance and training; or

  • our administrative operations (including accounting and risk management).

SHARING AND DISCLOSING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

We never sell, rent or trade your Personal Information.

We may share your Personal Information with parties which provide services to you on your behalf.

We will not share your Personal Information with any unrelated party except under the following circumstances:

  • in accordance with this Privacy Policy;

  • if disclosure is otherwise required in order to provide you with a particular legal service;

  • to ensure our ability to continue providing our legal services;

  • if disclosure is required by law or requested by a statutory authority, including the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, other dispute resolution providers, government body or regulator or any other law enforcement agency;

  • where it is necessary to enable a third party to assist us in providing our services, for example a barrister, professional expert, loss assessor, investigator, accountant and any other party or person involved in our legal services management processes;

  • where you have provided your express or implied consent for us to do so.

Third parties to whom your Personal Information is disclosed will be required to keep the information confidential and only use it for the purpose it was supplied.

SECURITY OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

We are committed to keeping your Personal Information secure and will use all reasonable measures to protect it from loss, misuse, interference or unauthorised access, modification or disclosure, including:

  • physically securing our premises;

  • maintaining computer and network security which requires multi factor authentication to gain access to our computer systems;

  • restricting access to your Personal Information by our employees or any person who performs services on your behalf;

  • entering into confidentiality agreements with third parties whenever possible;

  • only retaining your Personal Information for as long as it is reasonably required by us to provide our legal services to you, unless we are required by law to retain it for longer;

  • taking reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify any Personal Information as soon as it is no longer required.

HOW TO CONTACT US

If you have any questions, suggestions or complaints about our privacy practices or this privacy policy, please contact SMD on 07-3218 4600 or send an email to admin@smdlawyers.com.au and we will endeavor to respond to you as soon as possible.

Depending on the nature of your enquiry we may ask that you submit your request in writing.

If you are not satisfied with our response to your enquiry or complaint you can contact our Director and request that our decision be reviewed by a mediator who will endeavour to resolve your dispute within 30 days.

If you are still not satisfied with our decision we will tell you about the options you may have to refer your complaint to a recognised external dispute resolution scheme or to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

You can obtain information on the privacy issues in Australia by visiting the OAIC website at www.oaic.gov.au or by contacting the OAIC directly by email at enquiries@oaic.gov.au or by calling on 1300 363 992.