As a Black lesbian lawyer I initially felt isolated – but things are changing for the better
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Solicitor Jacqui Rhule-Dagher is making waves in the legal industry as a Black lesbian woman, using her platform to advocate for change and support other queer lawyers. With a career that spans top law firms in the UK, Rhule-Dagher is committed to driving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives while also excelling in her day job as a solicitor in complex litigation at Hogan Lovells in London.
Rhule-Dagher’s passion for the legal industry was evident from a young age. She was drawn to the dynamic nature of the work, the opportunity for extensive research, and the ability to collaborate with clients across various sectors. After studying at Durham University, she embarked on a career in law, eventually landing her current position at Hogan Lovells.
Reflecting on her early experiences in the legal industry, Rhule-Dagher acknowledges that it was once a conservative, traditional, and homogenous field. Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives were often seen as optional or distractions. However, she’s pleased to see progress being made and feels fortunate to work for an organization where she can bring her authentic self to the workplace.
As a Black lesbian lawyer, Rhule-Dagher is passionate about raising awareness of intersectionality, a concept often misunderstood and taken out of context. She explains that intersectionality refers to how personal characteristics such as class, gender, race, and others combine, overlap, and intersect with one another. For Rhule-Dagher, it means navigating the world differently due to the combination of her race, gender, and sexuality.
One of the challenges she faced early in her career was feeling torn between her Black identity and her lesbian identity. She felt she had to choose one or the other and struggled with this internal conflict. However, she received valuable advice from a senior associate at another law firm who emphasized the importance of being known as a lawyer who happens to be a lesbian, rather than a lesbian lawyer.
Bringing her authentic self to work has allowed Rhule-Dagher to build meaningful relationships with colleagues and clients. She believes that visibility is crucial and recalls how empowering it was to see other lesbian lawyers who were successful in their careers. To inspire and support others, she founded Legally Lesbians during Lesbian Visibility Week earlier this year, connecting with over two dozen lesbian lawyers who shared their experiences and the importance of lesbian visibility.
Rhule-Dagher proudly embraces the term “lesbian” and believes that labels should be comfortable and empowering. She wants to challenge the narrow view of what a lesbian should be and encourages others to find a label that works for them, if they choose to use one. She also acknowledges that coming out is a personal journey and that individuals who don’t feel ready or comfortable doing so are still important members of the LGBTQ+ community.
In conclusion, Jacqui Rhule-Dagher’s experiences as a Black lesbian woman have shaped her career as a lawyer and fueled her commitment to DEI initiatives. Through her work on the steering committee of the Law Society’s LGBTQ+ Solicitors Network and her advocacy for intersectionality, she strives to ensure that LGBTQIA lawyers in England and Wales thrive within the legal industry. By bringing her authentic self to work, she hopes to inspire others and break down barriers for future generations of queer lawyers.
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