Giulia Zanardini shares her experience studying at The University of Law and what inspired her to pursue a career in law
Legal Cheek Careers sits down with Giulia Zanardini, a former athlete and current University of Law SQE student, to hear about her unconventional route into law, the lessons she’s learnt along the way, and why she believes curiosity is key to career happiness.
When Giulia Zanardini first arrived in the UK at 17, a legal career wasn’t even on her radar. “I was a very sporty kid,” she recalls. “I was competing professionally in showjumping from the age of 11, and that’s all I knew.” Moving from Italy to the UK to access stronger sports programmes, she threw herself into training and study, eventually completing a degree in sports sciences at Hartpury University in Gloucestershire. But her ambitions began to evolve. “When you move away from home, you start to see the world differently,” she reflects. “The more I saw, the more I wanted a career where I could meaningfully help people and have a stronger sense of purpose.” A chance dinner with a law professor proved a turning point. “She told me I should study law. I took the LNAT almost as a joke, thinking if I passed maybe it was meant to be — and I did!”
That decision led her to the University of Exeter, where she studied law with international studies. One of the highlights was spending a year abroad at the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain. “I knew before I started that I wanted to study abroad again. Moving to the UK at 17 was such a meaningful experience; it pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow. I wanted that again.” Language learning was another draw. Already fluent in Italian and English, she was keen to add Spanish to her repertoire. “I love languages,” she smiles. “Being immersed in another culture always teaches you something.”
Transitioning from sports sciences to law brought unexpected advantages. “Academic discipline was the main one,” she says. “I already knew how to write assignments and manage deadlines, which made my first year of law less stressful.” Alongside her studies, Zanardini worked part-time as a waitress. “I wanted something completely different from sitting at a desk,” she says. “So I picked a job where I was on my feet all day, chatting to people, and the only thing I had to memorise was the menu. It helped me switch off.”
Balancing study and part-time work also taught her the importance of organisation and rest. “I became really intentional with calendar blocking,” she explains. “I’d schedule my work, study hours, and time off. Seeing it all laid out helped me manage stress because I could tell I had time for everything. It might sound a bit extra, but scheduling breaks really works.”
When it comes to future practice areas, Zanardini is drawn to the people-centred side of law. “I went into law because I wanted to connect more with people,” she says. “I like the idea of a smaller firm with one-on-one client relationships rather than big corporate work. I’m interested in helping people through personal matters, not just transactions.” Her current seat preferences reflect that approach. “My first choice would be employment law. As an immigrant myself, immigration law is my second. Then medical or personal injury law — I took a medical law module and loved it.”
Now studying the LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) at The University of Law, she says the small, close-knit community is one of the highlights. “I really enjoy that we’re a small group. It’s easier to ask questions and get to know the professors,” she says. “The teaching is great. Even with intense modules, they make it engaging and interesting.” That’s not to say it’s easy. “The hardest part is the workload,” she admits. “One professor said you have to treat it like a nine-to-five, and that’s true — sometimes it’s even weekends too. There’s a lot to cover.”
Alongside her studies, Zanardini is an employability ambassador for ULaw, a role that reflects her enthusiasm for helping others navigate their legal journeys. “One of the things that drew me to ULaw was the employability team,” she says. “When they were looking for an ambassador, I loved the idea of being part of that support network.” She describes her role as “a bridge between students and the careers team”. “If someone needs advice on CVs, interviews or career planning, they come to me and I direct them to the right person,” she explains. “ULaw offers so much, from detailed CV feedback to mock interviews, one-on-one advice, pro bono work, and placements. It’s great for building confidence and experience.”
With two degrees already under her belt and a third in progress — in sports sciences, law and now the SQE — Zanardini knows a thing or two about motivation. “Scheduling time off makes you want to come back to studying with enthusiasm,” she says. “And I’ve always chosen subjects I’m passionate about, which helps.” That sense of authenticity extends to her career ambitions too. “There’s a lot of pressure to go into commercial law,” she observes. “At Exeter, many people were applying for training contracts at big firms, and I sometimes felt maybe I should too. But it’s important to check in with yourself and ask, ‘Am I enjoying this? Do I want to do something different?’ University is the best time to explore and be curious.”
She encourages other students to do the same. “I went to the law fair every year and spoke to as many people as possible,” she says. “After Covid, there were so many virtual events, and I joined lots of ULaw’s evening sessions online. They were fantastic for meeting people and learning about different paths.” Looking back, her advice to her younger self — and to students starting out today — is simple. “I’d tell my first-year self to say yes to more things,” she says. “I used to be all study, study, study. But there’s more to do than just study — join societies, go to events, have fun. Be curious. Say yes a bit more.”
Legal Cheek Live in Bristol takes place in-person TOMORROW on Thursday, 30 October. The afternoon features a series of careers and commercial awareness workshops delivered by top law firms as well as a careers fair featuring early talent and graduate recruitment teams. Register to attend now.
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