Student Spotlight: Richard Murdocco

By most measures, Richard Murdocco already has a full plate. As Vice President of Communications for a publicly traded organization, he helps shape how a company tells its story to the world. As an Adjunct Professor at Stony Brook University, he teaches graduate and undergraduate students about communications, intergovernmental relations, economic development, real estate, and urban planning. But Richard felt something was missing — a deeper command of the law that underpins the policy and planning work to which he has devoted his career. So he did something about it. Now a 2L in Touro's FlexTime JD program, Richard is pursuing his law degree without stepping back from either of his careers — a balancing act that, as he'll tell you, would not be possible without the right support system and an early alarm clock.

Background & Decision to Attend Law School

What made you decide to pursue a law degree at this point in your career?
I have worked in the marketing/communications space for 15 years, during which I've had a concurrent career rooted in public policy.

As my professional responsibilities on both sides grew, I realized that sharpening my understanding of the law would not only help bridge the gaps between the two areas I engage in but also make me more effective in both my teaching and in my day-to-day work. I've always wanted to go to law school, and Touro's FlexTime program made it possible. To be honest, I didn't even consider another school.

How do your roles in communications, urban planning, and solar energy inform your interest in studying law?
I've always taught and argued in my writing that planning is a balancing act between social, environmental, and economic forces.

It is one thing to comment on the policy decisions that governments make that shape our communities, but wholly another to sit at the table and actually craft the regulations that protect our environment while nurturing our economy at the same time. What I love about the study of law at Touro is that my classes are helping to further my understanding of the contours and scope of governmental power, including its applications and its limits. Foundationally, my career has allowed me to explore these themes at length, but the legal piece was always missing.

Was there a specific moment or experience that pushed you to take the leap into law school?
Yes - Anthony Luckie, a Touro Law alum who leveraged his experience at the school to a fruitful legal career, has been a friend since childhood and has been pushing me to attend Touro for nearly two decades. Eventually, it was the right time and here I am...Though, now I have to tolerate him always giving me a big "I told you so!" whenever he has the chance.

Balancing Multiple Roles

How do you juggle teaching, your executive role, leading the resource group, and law school?
My wife, Arielle, who is a successful educator who balances multiple professional roles herself, is the reason why this is possible for me.

She has been very supportive of my career endeavors and keeps the household running. With work, teaching, and now being a student myself, I try my best to keep an eye on my time management... which sometimes means waking up quite early and staying on top of the coursework. There are only 24-hours in the day though, so my blog writing has slowed down considerably. Something had to give!

What's your strategy for managing such a demanding schedule - Any time management tips for other busy students?
I try to maximize the early morning hours as much as possible to tackle course work. I set a time limit on when work needs to stop. One simply doesn't absorb a textbook when they are tired.

Family dinners are important, and when it's time for the kids to get ready for bed, I stop working, help get them ready, and use that time to recharge. In addition, there are what I like to call "pockets of time" throughout the day that we all can leverage to squeeze coursework in... five to ten minutes here and there amounts to a significant amount by the end of the day.

Which of your roles energizes you most, and how does that help you power through the challenging days?
Teaching has been a consistent gift, and even after all of these years, I still get excited to feel that first hit of autumn air when the semester starts. Every job has its tough days - but I genuinely look forward to lecturing and having the chance to share my perspective in a classroom on topics that matter.

The Intersection of Work and Study

How do the topics you're studying in law school connect to your work?
The topics tackled in my first year are directly related. Legal Process and the Writing Center are both helping me write for a legal audience, which has already paid dividends in every aspect of my career.

Civil Procedure is helping me understand the purview of the Federal Government's power over an individual and their property, and how the States are nearly as powerful in the same regard - which is invaluable in teaching policy. On the corporate side, Torts has helped me refocus my analysis on the expectations the law places on individuals and entities, and how breaching those expectations can be quite consequential, while Contracts highlights the need for mutual understanding and legal guardrails to ensure business is justly conducted.

I cannot wait until we dive into the mechanics of Property and Constitutional Law to further amplify the benefits of the courses I've already taken.

Do your students or colleagues know you're in law school? How do they react?
Yes. It is part of my faculty biography on the University website, and leadership has been very supportive of my endeavors. Students genuinely seem shocked - I've done some cool things in my career, but the fact that I am in law school has resonated with most people if it gets mentioned.

Future Goals & Aspirations

What do you hope to do with your law degree once you graduate?
I would love to put my experience to work and offer legal counsel to those looking to develop, preserve, or create new land use regulations in the NYC metro area.

Additionally, I've been exploring leveraging my law degree to help assist with matters related to family law and/or estates and trusts. I am keeping my options open because my experience has been so varied and there are multiple avenues I can follow. The priority, of course, is tackling that Bar exam!

Do you see yourself practicing law, or will the JD enhance the work you're already doing?
Yes - It is my dream to practice law, and it will enhance my ability to teach and create policy down the road.

Five years from now, what does success look like for you?
Success takes many forms - but being able to be there for my family while putting my Touro legal education to work sounds like a laudable goal. In addition, I'd love to give back to the school when able and help nurture the talents of the next generation of Touro students.

Getting to Know You!

What do you do to unwind when you're not working or studying?
I enjoy a good trip out to dinner with Arielle and the kids (chicken parm with vodka sauce at my favorite Italian spot - you need to try it!). When the weather's nice, I enjoy a walk with the family and dogs, or a drive early on a sunny Sunday morning. It's also fun to turn on the Nintendo and show the kids that their Dad still knows his way around Rainbow Road.

What's something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I own multiple guitars, two all-valve amplifier heads with two 4x12 speaker cabinets, and am not afraid to crank them to 11 (for better or worse...)

If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering law school as a non-traditional student, what would it be?
If you have the ability to do so logistically, jump into the pool and challenge yourself, because the time passes anyway. It can sound sappy in a cynical world, but sometimes we all need a reminder that we are not confined to one track. It's never too late to start a new journey.