For Professor Heather Varanini, Students’ Well-Being, Confidence Leads to Academic Success

• Professor of Practice Heather Varanini draws on personal experience and nearly a decade of work in academic skills training to support students in the Legal Education Opportunity Program (LEOP).
• She aims to help students prepare for the bar exam and hone critical skills needed to thrive in law school and in their legal careers.
• Her student-centered approach advances UC Law SF’s commitment to access, excellence, and holistic legal education.

 

Heather Varanini knows firsthand how overwhelming law school can feel.

She remembers the challenge of adapting as a first-generation law student—wrestling with dense material, high-stakes exams, and pressure to succeed.

“I had so much anxiety around preparing for and taking exams that I had a hard time even thinking about how to study effectively,” she said.

But Varanini didn’t let those challenges stop her. She pushed through, passed the bar, and spent eight years helping others do the same as an instructor and leader in academic skills building for law students.

Varanini recently joined UC Law San Francisco as a professor of practice to support students in the Legal Education Opportunity Program (LEOP), including those navigating challenges she once faced herself.

“I want to teach students the skills they need to reach their goals,” she said. “That means not just showing them how to succeed on exams, but helping them define what success looks like for them—and how to get there.”

A Champion for Students

At UC Law SF, Varanini will lead workshops and trainings for students in LEOP, which admits law students who have overcome barriers to succeeding in higher education while also providing financial and programmatic support.

It’s a job that feels deeply personal to her.

“I think it’s so critical to have a program that helps students not just get into law school, but thrive here,” she said.

What drew her to UC Law SF was the school’s holistic approach to academic and bar support—embedding skills training directly into the curriculum. First-year students, for example, get academic support built into their core classes, while upper-division students benefit from bar-focused courses, practice tests, and one-on-one coaching.

“The approach to teaching and learning here is pervasive,” she said. “It’s not just one program—it’s woven into the entire curriculum.”

As part of that integrated support, Varanini will teach practical skills for academic success, from building study tools and mastering exam writing to managing time under pressure.

A Winding Path to Law and Mentorship

Varanini’s path to legal education wasn’t a straight line. After earning a degree in politics and Latin American and Latino studies at UC Santa Cruz, she worked in management consulting for one of the nation’s top polling firms. The work was intellectually stimulating—but she felt something was missing.

“I wanted to do something that had a more direct impact on people’s lives,” she said.

She began exploring law and was pleasantly surprised to find that the heart of legal work wasn’t flashy courtroom drama. It was research, writing, and problem-solving—all things she was naturally good at.

After earning her JD from Golden Gate University, she was hired into an academic support role at her alma mater, eventually leading the law school’s bar services and academic achievement programs.

“My goal was always to make law school a little more manageable and navigable for the next person,” she said. 

Preparing for the Bar

Varanini remembers her own bar prep experience vividly, describing it as intense, isolating, and an emotional rollercoaster.

“If you’re overwhelmed by anxiety, your brain doesn’t absorb information well,” she said. “That’s why I tell students to plan ahead and make time for the things that can help them relax and destress.”

Whether it’s calling a friend, baking cookies, or going for a run, she urges students to build regular self-care into their study schedules.

“Physical movement gets the blood flowing and helps you process information better,” she said.

These are the kinds of tips she wishes had been emphasized more during her bar prep. Now, she’s sharing them with LEOP students. She also offers empathy, encouragement, and an atmosphere where students can feel safe to make mistakes, learn, and adjust.

Helping Students Thrive

Varanini sees her role as helping foster community in an environment that can feel fiercely competitive and isolating. She believes LEOP provides a vital space where students can lean on one another, share strategies, and extend grace in tough moments.

“Some of the best parts of my law school experience were those times when things were really hard, and my classmates showed kindness and support,” she said. “In this challenging environment, you want people to remember you for your kindness.”

Supporting students also means being attuned to what they’re going through. Varanini said her job often requires deep listening and emotional intelligence. She strives to create space for students to process, reflect, and find their own footing.

“I’ve learned that sometimes the most important thing I can do is ask questions and really listen,” she said.

For Varanini, academic support isn’t just about exam prep or mastering multiple-choice strategy—it’s about helping students believe in themselves, clarify their goals, and chart a path to get there with confidence.

“My role is to make sure they have what they need to do well and achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves,” she said. “Sometimes that means helping them identify what barriers are in the way—and how to move past them.”