Mr James Betts

Personal Statement

James is a Solicitor and Lecturer teaching on the Clinical Legal Skills module. James also offers extra curricular projects to students in his specialist area of Education Law, Disability and Children's rights.

Prior to joining the University of Liverpool, James worked in private practice for over 10 years developing a reputation for his work in Special Educational Needs and Disability (‘SEND’) law. He is recognised to be an expert in the field by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners guides.

The majority of James’ work in private practice focussed on supporting parents of disabled children to challenge local authority decisions in respect of education and social care provision. James also represented looked after children, care leavers and disabled adults to secure the support required to meet their individual needs.

His reported cases include:

• DM v Cornwall County Council [2022] UKUT 230 (AAC) – An appeal to the Upper Tribunal in which it was confirmed that provision may need to appear more explicitly in a case where a child is being educated outside of school (sometimes referred to as EOTAS provision).

• Re Z (A Child: Deprivation of Liberty: Transition Plan) [2020] EWHC 3038 (Fam) – in which the High Court gave guidance to local authorities and families seeking to move a child into a placement where restraint and restrictions on liberty are required.

• L (An Infant), R (On the Application Of) v Buckinghamshire County Council [2019] EWHC 1817 – in which, for the first time, the High Court considered the law in relation to Children’s Centres.

James has also advised schools on pupil related issues and regularly delivers training on special educational needs law to charities, schools and other lawyers.