His parents were Alfredo Zavala y Camps, a government attorney who was briefly acting Minister of Finance in 1910 and 1911, and Isabel Lafora y Calatayud.

[1] He began work early at the Ministry of Finance, while also studying for a law degree, which he obtained a year earlier than usual.

[2] On 16 April 1931, just after the Second Spanish Republic had been proclaimed, the Minister of Finance Indalecio Prieto appointed Zavala Lafora Director General of Debt and Liabilities in his ministry.

This office included the Presidency of the Administration Council of the Mines of Almaden and Arrayanes, which involved participation in Mercurio Europeo, an organization formed in Italy to control the price of mercury.

Zavala Lafora, a Catholic, resigned from the Directorate General and resumed his post as State Attorney in the Central Economic Administrative Court.

[5] In November 1932 Prime Minister Manuel Azaña offered Zavala Lafora the position of Permanent State Advisor for the Treasury Section.

[7] In 1940 Zavala Lafora was appointed to the boards of Tabacalera, Sociedad Española del Acumulador Tudor and Banco Zaragozano(es).