– Carrara practiced law in Florence and Lucca, where he was soon engaged in debates about criminal law reform.

1848 – He was appointed to the chair of criminal law at the University of Lucca at Pisa.

         – His principal work, written there, was the ten-volume Programma dal corso di diritto criminale. Synthesising Italian thought in criminal law since Beccaria, it also had significant influence abroad.

1840 – Carrara at first followed Mazzini, but came closer to more moderate liberal groups.

1863-1867 – He helped arrange the accession of Lucca to Tuscany, and, after Italian unification, was elected to Parliament.

1889 – He was an influential member of the commission preparing the Criminal Code of Italy, the Codice Zanardelli completed.