Overview

Survivor at Law is a deeply personal and unflinching memoir that examines narcissistic abuse, coercive control, and the devastating ways the legal system can be weaponized against those it is meant to protect. Dovie King-a public interest attorney, educator, and proud Latina-built her career advocating for justice, equality, and access to the law. Yet behind that professional identity, she found herself navigating a relationship defined by manipulation, control, and psychological harm. What followed was not just the end of a marriage, but the beginning of a prolonged and deeply adversarial legal battle-one that would test her understanding of the very system she had dedicated her life to. As the courtroom became another arena of conflict, King confronts a difficult truth: legal systems, while designed to uphold fairness, can be used as instruments of power in abusive dynamics. Through her dual lens as both attorney and survivor, she reveals how credibility is challenged, narratives are distorted, and justice can become entangled with bias, procedure, and perception. This memoir moves beyond a personal account of trauma. It is an exploration of what it means to be disbelieved, to be silenced, and ultimately, to reclaim one's voice. With clarity and restraint, King reflects on identity, cultural expectations, and the invisible pressures faced by survivors-particularly those navigating both personal and institutional barriers. In Survivor at Law, readers will encounter: A nuanced portrayal of narcissistic abuse and coercive control within intimate relationships A rare insider perspective on how family court and legal processes can be experienced by survivors The intersection of professional identity and personal vulnerability A journey of resilience, self-definition, and transformation For readers of Chanel Miller, Tara Westover, and Jennette McCurdy, Survivor at Law offers both recognition and insight-grounded in lived experience and sharpened by legal understanding. This is not a story about blame. It is a story about survival, truth, and the difficult path toward reclaiming power in systems that often fail to protect.

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9798999450401

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Reviews

""Unlike anything I've encountered- this book is fierce."" RICKY GREENWALD, PSYDExecutive Director of the Trauma Institute and Child Trauma Institute ""Survivor at Law is a courageous account that exposes the complexities of trauma. "" PROFESSOR JOAN MEIER, JDProfessor at George Washington Law & National Family Violence Law Center""An important and must-read book."" BOB GEFFNER, PHD, ABPP, ABN Founding President of the Institute on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma & Author ""This book is a lifeline and a call for law reform.""DONNA BUISOSurvivor, Protective Parent & Author of Nothing But My Voice""This book is a joyful romp through a hideous story of injustice, lovingly wrapped in language and humor that is utterly compelling."" RACHEL MEYRICK Director of the Award-Winning Documentary Film What Doesn't Kill Me ""Dovie's memoir is a masterful exploration of resilience for all who believe in justice."" PROFESSOR MO HANNAH, PHDProfessor at Siena College & Battered Mothers Custody Conference""This is a valuable resource for anyone dealing with trauma.""President of the California Medical Innovations Institute & AuthorHANS GREGERSEN, MD/PHD

Author Information

Dovie King, JD, is a Latina lawyer, survivor, and author focused on the intersection of trauma, domestic abuse, and the legal system. Drawing from firsthand experience and legal insight, King examines how court processes can be used as tools of coercion in high-conflict relationships. Through writing and advocacy, she aims to increase awareness of systemic gaps and support more trauma-informed approaches within the legal profession.

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