Tips from the Bar: Turning Challenges Into Change: Valenti on Building a Resilient Legal Center

Solo practitioner and seasoned disability-rights advocate Matt Valenti has dedicated his legal career to transformative work shaped by his personal journey. Growing up with a heart condition and watching his brother face challenges due to Down syndrome, Valenti’s path to advocacy has been anything but predictable.

He began his legal career in appellate advocacy and complex civil litigation under the mentorship of Dan Lawton, his former Thomas Jefferson School of Law professor and a veteran of high-pressure “white shoe” firm culture. 

Mr. Valenti advises new lawyers to always take up time when an attorney offers it. “You never know where it might lead,” he says. 

A principle empaszied by Lawton that Valenti carries with him is: “If your name is on it, it has to be your best work — no excuses.” 

Build Trust

Valenti’s early work on patent infringement cases with Lawton, including major projects for biotech company AntiCancer, taught him the importance of reliability and relationships. Over time, he became a trusted advisor to AntiCancer’s founder, Dr. Robert Hoffman, which led to eight years as in-house counsel. His advice for new attorneys: “Focus on being dependable and building rapport. Legal arguments matter, but strong relationships sustain your career.”

Be Ready to Pivot and Lean In

When AntiCancer no longer needed in-house counsel, Valenti shifted to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) civil-rights work at Potter Handy, where he again became a primary client contact. Even after pandemic-related layoffs, clients continued to seek his help. Rather than wait for another position, Valenti took the leap into solo practice, a move he once found intimidating, but now embraces.

“If you can get through law school and pass the bar exam, you can figure out how to open your own practice,” he says. 

Valenti urges new lawyers to listen to the people you serve and adapt. “Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity, trust your skills, build your reputation, and have the courage to forge your own path.”

Let Personal Experience Fuel Your Advocacy

Valenti’s commitment to ADA work springs from childhood memories of witnessing how society treated his brother with Down syndrome and his parents’ battle to secure basic services. Reflecting on families with fewer resources, he says, “I think about families without those advantages, and I want to be the person who helps them.”

He finds tangible rewards in his work. “In patent litigation, you can spend years in court and all that changes is a couple of bank accounts. With ADA cases, a few months later there’s a ramp, an accessible parking space, a lowered counter. The world becomes more accessible — and you can see it.”

Lead with Empathy

Recalling early advice from a preschool teacher — “reflect emotions back so children feel understood” — Valenti applies the same principle to lawyering. “I try not to use too much legalese. I talk to clients like normal people, listen closely, and make sure they feel heard.” Empathy and clear communication, he says, build trust faster than complicated language, benefiting both clients and colleagues.

Be Honest When You Need to Pause

After major heart surgery, Valenti spent several weeks away from work. Rather than stay silent, he was transparent with clients, opposing counsel, and the court about his recovery. His advice to new attorneys: “Don’t be afraid to show vulnerability. Honesty earns respect, not weakness.”

Work-Life Balance and Support Systems

Discussing his surgery and work-life balance, Valenti emphasizes self-care: “Be your own advocate.” He champions carving out time for family, friends, and hobbies, and taking breaks before work becomes unsustainable. For him, the most important support system has been his wife. “Having someone in your corner makes all the difference.” His advice for attorneys: Find routines that recharge you, and don’t neglect the things you enjoy; balance is the only way to sustain a long career.

Reflections on Resilience

Looking back, Valenti sees growth in adversity. “You keep growing. You have to be resilient, because you will get knocked down. Being a lawyer is not for the faint of heart, having courage is really important.” 

To his younger self, he would say, “Don’t be intimidated. Do your homework, do the work, and don’t sell yourself short.” And to others, he leaves this message, “There are many paths to satisfaction in law. Keep looking, keep trying, and have the courage to choose yours.”