Rich graduated in 1976 with a degree in Journalism from the University of Montana, Missoula, where he served on the University’s Publications Board and was Managing Editor for the college newspaper, Montana Kaimin. This enabled him to serve as a front-line reporter for Butte's Montana Standard daily newspaper. He was also an award-winning journalist for the Montana Associated Press in 1977, where he received a plaque for Exceptional Writing. He still actively uses his journalistic curiosity and keen sense of wit to inquire about witnesses and parties in his cases. Rich then worked a year in Denver for the weekly Rocky Mountain Business Journal before law school.

Rich last attended school at the University of Denver Westminster School of Law. His collegiate journalism interests evolved to serving as an editor for the University of Denver Law Review. He graduated from law school in June 1982 and has been licensed in Colorado since October 1982.

He commenced his legal career with Anstine and Hill (1983-1986) and White and Steele (1986-2004). While at White and Steele, in 1990, he was elected President of the Colorado Defense Lawyers Association and honored with an Exceptional Performance Citation plaque from the Defense Research Institute. He then served from 2006-2008 on the board of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, where he contributed articles addressing Insurance, and also served on the board for APITLA, (the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers Association), where he also contributed an article on Depositions.

Rich has been licensed in Colorado since October 1982, graduating in June 1982 from the University of Denver Westminster School of Law (as it was then known). From 1983 to 2004, he represented insurance companies and their insureds who got sued for negligent behavior.  From 2004 onward, Rich has focused on helping those hurt by harmful insurance industry practices.