Black Lawyers Who Thrived Remotely Agonize Over Return to Office

Gabriel Yomi Dabiri, a Black lawyer, says that for many of the diverse attorneys he mentors at various firms, remote work during the pandemic was the first time they felt judged solely on their merits.

“I’ve heard that they felt like they’re in scenarios where they’re submitting work and being judged solely on the work and whatever kind of anchor that had been holding them back by virtue of race is not necessarily present in a remote environment,” said Dabiri, the office managing partner of Polsinelli PC’s New York City office.

Lawyers of color who spoke to Bloomberg Law worry ...