Richard Law graduated from Yale College in 1751 and read law before being admitted to the bar in 1755. He practiced law in Milford and New London, Connecticut, and served as a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Connecticut General Assembly. Law held various judicial roles, including Chief Judge of the New London County Court and Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court, where he served as Chief Judge. He also served as Mayor of New London for two decades and was a delegate to multiple Continental Congresses. 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 judicial career reveals a complex interplay between strict adherence to legal precedent and regional considerations, particularly evident in his handling of the Hannah Ocuish trial. His approach to federal judicial service, confirmed swiftly by the Senate, suggests a deep commitment to the nascent American legal system. Despite these roles, Law's unexpected convergence with opposing factions on environmental regulations in his legislative record hints at a highly calculated strategy to balance broader national interests with local concerns.