He graduated from law at Mariano Gálvez University in October 1984, doing a thesis titled in "("English": The Labor Problems Caused by Rapid Population Growth)". Leopoldo Guerra studied a specialization in criminal law at Harvard University. After that, he obtained a position as judge in the Judicial Branch, and was a judge of the Appeals Chamber for 35 years. Guerra was also a defense lawyer for soldiers accused of crimes against humanity committed during the Civil War.