Based in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, Carla Risoldi is the owner of Risoldi Law Offices, LLC. Since 1994, she has worked hard to meet the needs of her community. She has established a reputation for working closely with her clients to gain a complete understanding of their legal needs and developing impactful and cost-effective strategies. Carla Risoldi has extensive experience as an attorney managing both criminal and civil proceedings, and is highly knowledgeable in the field of family law. She also provides services as a facilitative mediator, helping clients avoid the time-consuming, costly nature of litigation.
Carla Risoldi has practiced law for more than 25 years. She is skilled at presenting arguments and preparing contracts, dispositions, and an array of additional legal documents. In addition to representing clients, she has spent time as the assistant district attorney in Bucks County.
After graduating magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA, Carla Risoldi completed her legal education at Fordham Law. She is a member of the American, Mercer County, and Bucks County Bar Associations. When she is not practicing law, she enjoys meditating.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical—or perhaps ideal—day starts with waking up refreshed and letting the dogs out. I like to make time for exercise and meditation, which helps me start the day feeling centered and focused. From there, I turn my attention to work and whatever needs to be accomplished that day. I find that taking care of myself physically and mentally helps me stay productive and approach my work with a clear mind. At the end of the day, I enjoy cooking dinner and having that time to slow down and unwind.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I am intuitive, but I also believe in careful planning. When I have an idea that I think is worth pursuing, I take the time to research it and consider the different aspects involved. I like to understand what it will take to move forward and develop a plan before taking action. Once I have done the research and feel confident in the direction, I move forward and put the idea into action.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I do not tend to follow trends. I prefer to make decisions based on my own experiences, interests, and judgment rather than what happens to be popular at the moment. I am always open to new ideas and approaches, but I like to evaluate them for myself and determine whether they have real value or relevance to my life. I have found that staying true to what works for me is more important than following what everyone else is doing.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I have always been able to entertain myself with a good book or by studying something that interests me, and I bring that same sense of curiosity to my work. I stay organized and try to find something interesting or engaging in whatever I am doing. Once I become interested in a project or task, I can become completely absorbed in it and the time seems to fly by. The ability to stay curious and genuinely enjoy what I am doing helps me remain focused and productive. In many ways, when I am engaged in the work, it does not really feel like work at all.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I have always been able to entertain myself with a good book or by studying something that interests me, and I bring that same sense of curiosity to my work. I stay organized and try to find something interesting or engaging in whatever I am doing. Once I become interested in a project or task, I can become completely absorbed in it and the time seems to fly by. The ability to stay curious and genuinely enjoy what I am doing helps me remain focused and productive. In many ways, when I am engaged in the work, it does not really feel like work at all.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I do not want to stream music, even though everyone tells me how great and convenient it is. I prefer listening to music in the ways I am already comfortable with and choosing what I want to hear rather than relying on a streaming service. I know I may be in the minority on this one, but I have never felt the need to change something that already works for me simply because everyone else is doing it.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I would recommend making time to step away, clear your mind, and reset. For me, that may mean meditating, exercising, taking a walk, or reading something that interests me. It can be easy to become consumed by work and everyday responsibilities, but taking a little time for yourself can help you regain perspective and return to what you are doing with a clearer mind. I try to make that a regular part of my life, and I think everyone can benefit from finding their own way to pause and recharge.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I feel overwhelmed, I start by getting organized and breaking down what needs to be done. I usually begin with the easier tasks and gradually work my way toward the more difficult ones. That helps me build momentum and makes everything feel more manageable. When I am simply unfocused, I have learned not to force it. I will put the task down for a while and do something that helps clear my mind, such as taking a walk, reading, listening to a Dharma talk, or meditating. Once I have had an opportunity to reset, I can return to the task with a clearer mind and renewed focus.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
One strategy that has helped me throughout my career is providing clients with a very personal level of service. I essentially run a solo practice, so when a client hires me, they get me. I bring my experience and dedication directly to each matter and take the time to think through the different ways a case can be approached. I enjoy developing different arguments and having a plan A and a plan B depending on how a case progresses. I also genuinely enjoy legal research and the process of building an argument. I became an attorney because I have always enjoyed reading, writing, and arguing a position, and those are still some of the aspects of my work that I enjoy the most.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early in my career, I chose not to remain with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office for the customary three years. I felt strongly that I was ready to move into private practice. Roughly three years to the day after graduating from law school, I opened my own practice. Looking back, I am glad I trusted my instincts and made that decision. My time with the District Attorney’s Office was an invaluable experience and gave me a strong foundation as a young attorney, but leaving also taught me that there is not always one correct path to building a career. Sometimes you have to recognize when you are ready for the next challenge and be willing to take that step, even when it means doing something differently than what is customary.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I use the standard software and technology that most professionals rely on for communication, organization, research, and managing day-to-day work, but I do not have one particular program that I would recommend above the others. For me, technology is most useful when it makes a task more efficient without making the process unnecessarily complicated. I tend to use the tools that are practical, reliable, and allow me to stay organized and focused on my work.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?/
I spent a month living in Kyoto, Japan, during May and June as part of Temple University’s adult education program. It was an amazing experience and gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in a different culture and experience daily life in Kyoto rather than simply visiting as a tourist. Having an entire month there gave me time to learn, explore, and appreciate the experience at a different pace. It was a wonderful opportunity, and I am very glad I made the decision to do it.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I have always been drawn to classic literature and enjoy authors such as James Joyce, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Hermann Hesse, Ernest Hemingway, Albert Camus, and Gabriel García Márquez. I appreciate books that challenge me to think and offer different perspectives on people, culture, and the human experience. More recently, I have been reading Japanese literature dating from approximately 1000 to 1700, although unfortunately I still have to read it in translation. I enjoy exploring literature from different periods and cultures because there is always something new to discover, even in works written hundreds of years ago.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Recently, I have been watching mostly Japanese television with subtitles on Netflix. I just finished Strategist Kanbe, which I found particularly interesting because it combines an engaging story with Japanese history and is largely historically accurate. I enjoy learning about different periods of Japanese history and culture, so it was entertaining while also giving me an opportunity to learn more about the people and events of that time.
Key learnings
- Find work that is genuinely interesting and enjoyable.
- Maintain a variety of interests outside of work.
- Do not be afraid to take an unconventional career path.
- Stay curious and continue learning.
- Know when to step away and reset.