Born in Philadelphia, McLaughlin received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gwynedd-Mercy College in 1968, a Master of Arts from Bryn Mawr College in 1969, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1976.
She was a law clerk for Judge Stanley Seymour Brotman 1976 to 1977, and went on to work in private practice from 1977 to 1980.
She was an assistant professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Law from 1984 to 1986.
After leaving Vanderbilt, McLaughlin returned to private practice for fourteen years, during which time she served as a partner at the law firm of Dechert LLP.
[3][4] She assumed senior status on November 18, 2013 and retired on July 1, 2020.