After receiving his law degree in 1867, taking courses at both Université Laval and McGill College, Richard began to practice in Arthabaskaville with Wilfrid Laurier.

[1][2] After resigning from his post as sheriff, he sought election to the House of Commons again in 1883 in St. Boniface, but was defeated by Alphonse Alfred Clément Larivière.

[2][4] His work, Acadia, Missing Links of a Lost Chapter in American History, was published in two volumes in 1895.

[2] Despite this controversy, his work brought him accolades, including an election to the Royal Society of Canada and an honorary doctorate from Université Laval.

[2] In 1897, Richard, who never married, was named the successor to Joseph Marmette as the official Canadian archivist in France.