Biography
I'm a solicitor in our Bristol office specialising in Civil Liberties and Education Law.
I represent clients seeking compensation and accountability for breaches of their rights by state bodies, including the police, Crown Prosecution Service and the Ministry of Justice. This includes bringing claims for damages, applications for judicial review and complaints on behalf of clients who have been:
- Unlawfully arrested or otherwise detained
- Subject to the unlawful use of force
- Discriminated against, including racially or in connection with a disability
- Subjected to treatment which breaches their other legal rights, including under the Human Rights Act or Data Protection Act.
I also act for families in inquests and other legal actions arising from the death of loved ones:
- In detention, including in hospitals, in police custody and in prisons
- In the community whilst under the care of mental health trusts and/or local authorities
- Due to actions or failures to act by state bodies such as the police and mental health trusts.
I represent families in Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disability Tribunals, in challenges against local authorities regarding Educational, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments and EHC Plans, and in school admissions, transport and exclusions disputes. I advise on both Welsh and English SEN law.
Notable cases
I am part of the team instructed in a disability discrimination and negligence claim against the University of Bristol on behalf of the family of Natasha Abrahart, one of the 12 students at the University to take their own lives between October 2016 and May 2019.
The case was covered by The Guardian in July 2020.
I was part of the team instructed in a legal action on behalf of peaceful protestors arrested outside of Bristol Magistrates’ Court whilst demonstrating in support of the ‘Colston 4’. Avon and Somerset Constabulary admitted that it had unlawfully arrested the protestors and breached their human rights. This is thought to be the first time a police force has admitted unlawfully arresting protestors under Coronavirus Regulations.
The case was covered by The Guardian and Channel 4 News in April 2021.
Awards
- Best Overall Performance on the LLM in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Law, Bristol
- Cardiff Law School Prize for Best Performance in Final Year LLB Law Examinations, Cardiff University
- Blackstones Exam Prize Awarded to the candidate with the best mark in Law of the European Union, Cardiff University.
Testimonials
"My solicitor Miss Bethany Parr has been excellent in dealing with the delicate issues involved with our 9-year-old son with an additional need. We got her response on everything we asked for immediately. Whenever we wanted to talk on the phone she was always available and if we wanted to have Teams meetings she was always flexible. Her knowledge in the area of EHCP and Placement of setting is outstanding. She is very caring about our feelings. She is highly organised.
"She is always on time in contacting the opposition and transparent in correspondence. She is highly responsible for meeting deadlines. Since we got Bethany, we were so relieved that we had a trusted partner. We wish all the best for you and Irwin Mitchell and your continuous growth so you can help many more parents like us. We are so very much grateful." - 5* Trustpilot review
"Bethany Parr handled my case very professionally and efficiently. Excellent." - 5* Trustpilot review
"We instructed Bethany Parr to assist us with appealing our daughter's GCSE grades. My daughter's secondary school were extremely resistant to our requests for information and we felt they would ignore any appeal from us. Beth was incredible with the way she dealt with the school and their reluctance to share information as well as preparing an extremely in-depth appeal letter (over a dozen pages citing legislation that showed how they had given our daughter unfair grades).
"After reading that this year's GCSE appeals were practically impossible due to the setup essentially protecting the school's decisions, we didn't hold out much hope but through Beth's amazing expertise we managed to get 2 grades changed. Due to the school's error with her grades our daughter was unable to enrol on her preferred courses after results day which made her miserable, thanks to Beth and the uplift in her grades she is now enrolled on her preferred courses, we can't thank Beth enough for everything!" - 5* Trustpilot review
"I express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to Bethany Parr who was highly professional and competent services, provided in both a friendly and accessible manner. I have no reservation in highly recommending your firm and record my heartfelt thanks for your excellent work on my behalf." - 5* Trustpilot review
