How Coventry University helped shape James Scozzi’s unique path to his own legal firm
When James Scozzi first arrived at Coventry University in 1999 to study European Law, he had no idea where the journey would take him. He had ambitious plans and dreamed of working abroad, navigating international cases and living out a glamorous legal career across Europe.
Today, he’s the co-founder and managing partner of Elite Law Solicitors, a fast-growing law firm with 12 offices and more than 200 staff.
“I wanted to work in Brussels,” James said, recalling his teenage ambitions. “European Law was only offered at a few places at the time, and Coventry stood out, especially with the Erasmus option in Italy. I speak both English and Italian, so it was a perfect fit.”
Path was not a straight line
But like many graduates, James’ path wasn’t straightforward. After completing his degree and Erasmus year abroad, he struggled to find work in law. “Nobody was hiring. I ended up working for a shipping company for a while and looking for paralegal roles just to get my foot in the door,” he said.
Eventually he landed a position at a law firm in New Malden - but not in the legal department. “They didn’t have any paralegal vacancies, so they asked if I’d like to work in the legal costs department instead. That’s where it all began.”
From there James worked at various costs firms and eventually a law firm where he trained as a Solicitor and eventually became Head of the Costs Department and right-hand man to the Managing Partner. “It wasn’t a straight line. I had to hustle, adapt and learn on the job,” he said
Taking the leap
In 2015, driven by ambition, James took a leap: “I saw the managing partner buy himself an Aston Martin and thought ‘Hang on, that's off the back of my work’.” He drew up a business plan and approached two former colleagues and together they launched their own law firm and haven’t looked back since.
Growth was steady until the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the government’s incentives caused a boom in the property market, while the rest of society engaged with legal services that they may not have had to otherwise. “Conveyancing surged thanks to government incentives”, James said “Our private wealth team supported those who were unfortunate victims of the pandemic and our family law team represented families having to navigate
the difficult world of remote hearings and seeing children through lockdowns.”
As a result of excellent service and being ahead of other firms in adapting to the pandemic’s constant challenges, the firm doubled in size almost overnight, going from 25 to 50 employees, and then kept growing. Today it has expanded into Winchester with discussions underway to open new offices and even exploring international opportunities.
Long-term strategy and innovation
The father of two says his role now is less about firefighting and more about long-term strategy and innovation, particularly around automation and legal tech.
While the firm’s success is undeniable, he cautions against romanticising the future of law. “It’s a brutal industry. AI efficiency is already reducing entry-level roles and the profession is more competitive than ever. I tell students: don’t believe a law degree guarantees you a job in law. You have to think differently, build other skills and stay adaptable.
“Even if you don’t end up practising, a law degree gives you a way of thinking that’s useful in any career. “Don’t go into it assuming you’ll be a lawyer but do go into it knowing you’ll gain valuable skills. And get work experience early, apply for internships, tailor your CV for each role, and spellcheck everything. It really does matter.”
And his experience at Coventry University shaped his mindset. While he admits he didn’t love every module, he recognises the intellectual discipline it gave him: “The degree taught me how to think clearly, build arguments and back up my opinions. That’s been invaluable throughout my career.”
It also taught him independence. “University forced me to grow up, to pick up my socks, deal with difficult people and figure things out on my own. That resilience has been essential. Moving away and meeting people from different backgrounds, learning to get on with flatmates you don’t necessarily like, that’s preparation for real life.”
Continued connections with Coventry University
Despite his busy schedule James remains closely connected to Coventry University, regularly offering employability talks to current students and even providing work experience placements through a mock trial programme he supports. “The students are brilliant. They really go for it and I enjoy playing the ‘Judge’ character. It’s fun but it also teaches them real-world skills they can’t get from books.”
“I tell them everything I did wrong,” he says. “I didn’t apply early enough, didn’t get enough work experience, I didn’t know how to tailor my CV. Now I help them avoid those pitfalls.”
While he doesn’t discourage students from studying law, James is frank about the challenges facing young people entering the legal profession. “Now, as he looks to expand his firm’s legal services and improve client experience through technology, James, who is now 45, is driven by a different kind of motivation. “I get bored easily,” he said. “I need every day to be different. Now I get satisfaction from finding smarter ways to work, not just harder.”
His goal is to make the firm full-service while maintaining high standards of client care - something he believes will become even more crucial as legal automation becomes mainstream.
“The best firms won’t be the most high-tech,” he says. “They’ll be the ones with the best customer service. “The industry is changing but there will always be opportunities for people
who think creatively, work hard and stay adaptable just like I did.”
Find out more about studying Law at Coventry University.
