Survivor At Law: A Lawyer’s Memoir of Trauma, Narcissistic Abuse, and Weaponized Divorce

by Dovie King

Survivor at Law is a gripping memoir of narcissistic abuse, coercive control, and a weaponized legal system, told by attorney Dovie King. She shares her unflinching story of trauma, betrayal, and the fight to reclaim her voice—offering insight and empowerment for anyone who has felt trapped, silenced, or overlooked.

A proud Latina, public interest lawyer, and educator, Dovie spent her career fighting for others while privately enduring a relationship that would test everything she believed about justice—culminating in a years-long legal battle and divorce that exposed the dark side of the system meant to protect her, but also sparked her transformation.

This is not a story of blame. It’s a story of survival.

In Survivor at Law, you’ll

A raw, intelligent memoir of trauma, divorce, narcissistic abuse, and family court battles

How to reclaim your voice when the legal system fails

Wisdom and resilience gained through surviving betrayal and coercion

A story that resonates with readers of Chanel Miller, Tara Westover, and Jennette McCurdy

For anyone who has felt invisible in their pain, this memoir offers a rare combination of hard-won insight, dark humor, and hope.

“A story of rising—grief-stricken, wiser, and louder. Because silence was never the end of her story.”

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About the Author
Dovie King is a public interest attorney, survivor, and memoirist. Born in San Diego to immigrants from Mexico and Costa Rica, she brings a nuanced understanding of the cultural and legal barriers faced by marginalized communities. A graduate of Brown University and Northeastern University School of Law, Dovie has practiced law in California, Massachusetts, and New York. Survivor at Law is her debut memoir.

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2025

Reviews

[Jill Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

On rare occasion, you come upon a true story about someone bringing so much strength, courage, grit, determination, heart, and capability to the tackling of entrenched institutional problems, that it leaves you feeling inspired, appreciative, comforted, and, most importantly, hopeful. This is one such story. The writing and emotion are a bit raw, but for this book, it didn't detract. Rather, it was part of the authenticity of this deeply personal journey and communication. For anyone who has lived in a relationship with control imbalance, or who knows or has worked with someone who has - which this book makes clear is pretty much all of us -, this book is both a good read and a good education. And what I most appreciated is that the author concludes with common sense specific recommendations of what our institutions can do to repair the endemic problems, thereby providing a pathway, a blueprint, for impactful and needed change. A must read.

[Dee Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Survivor At Law is an insightful exploration of how our legal system fails to protect women in divorce. The story chronicles the author’s, lengthy and painful journey of escape from an abusive relationship. It is apparent that the author is a strong, intelligent, educated woman. Despite these advantages, she still barely came out the other end of the divorce process after suffering greatly, resulting in emotional and psychological scars that will likely haunt her for the rest of her life. If this is the result of our legal system for such a capable woman, I shudder to think of what happens to less able women going through the same meat grinder. For those who question the need for reform, for those who already know that it is badly needed and for those who simply want to read what is ultimately an uplifting story of survival, this book is a must read.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot to learn from Dovie's story. Underneath the audiobook narrator's self-righteous tone survivors will find a refuge and a practical guide. For others -inspiration for change and better understanding. I broke down in tears when her therapist validated her fears and gave her the support she needed to make the move that finally set her on the long path to freedom and eventually healing. Her calls for quality improvements to batterer intervention programs and abusers responsible for legal fees are basic common sense. I give the book only 3 out of 5 stars because it's not for everyone, but its value is high for survivors and anyone who knows one.

[Kristen Goettlicher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The breakdown of the chapters into the specific elements that you come across in these kinds of relationships was very well communicated, and yet brief enough to be informative but not too overly detailed that the truth of the matter gets jumbled.

Excellent read.