Richard Law graduated from Yale College and read law before being admitted to the bar. He practiced law in Milford and New London, serving as a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Connecticut General Assembly. Law held judicial positions, including Chief Judge of the New London County Court and Clerk of the Connecticut General Assembly. He was a delegate to multiple Continental Congresses and served as Mayor of New London and a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. President George Washington nominated Law to the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, a position he held until his death.

Richard Law's political career reveals a unique blend of judicial acumen and legislative engagement, suggesting an ideologically agile approach. His long tenure in various judicial roles, combined with active participation in early American governance, indicates a calculated strategy to influence policy from behind the scenes. Law's ability to navigate and hold positions across different branches of government hints at a deeply rooted commitment to institutional stability. His rhetorical style likely balanced legal precision with a pragmatic understanding of regional needs, though the specifics remain intriguingly vague.