Though born on a U.S. Air Force base overseas, Richard was raised from an early age in southern Louisiana.

In 2003, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  During his tenure at ULL, he was awarded the faculty's Crisler-Levine award for the outstanding paper in the political science department.

In 2006, he received his Juris Doctor from Loyola School of Law, graduating with honors, Cum Laude.  While in law school, Richard excelled in Loyola's Moot Court Program.  He competed nationally as an oralist and brief writer and, in his senior year, sat on the Moot Court Board.

Following law school, Richard served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Dee D. Drell, United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana.  As a federal law clerk, he worked on complex litigation, gaining valuable experience in several practice areas, including personal injury cases and insurance dispute claims. Immediately after his clerkship, Richard returned to New Orleans to practice law and to contribute to the City's rebuilding process. 

Professionally, Richard is an active member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and is licensed to practice in all Louisiana state courts.  He also is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.