Frink-Hamlett Legal Solutions

Professional Overview

Katherine Frink-Hamlett, Esq., is president and founder of Frink-Hamlett Legal Solutions, a WBENC certified placement firm based in New York City. The firm provides exceptional legal and compliance professionals on a temporary and permanent basis. Frink-Hamlett Legal Solutions is the only minority-owned legal placement firm that offers temporary solutions. They are also uniquely positioned to provide inclusive candidate pools. The firm specializes in legal professionals, including lawyers from all areas of practice and primarily focuses on making placements in the Northeast.


Katherine was born and raised in Harlem, N.Y. She attended Hunter College High School. She received a B.S. in Sociology and a BFA in Film/Television from New York University. Katherine also earned her J.D. from New York University School of Law, where she served as a Competitions Editor for the Moot Court Board. While studying law at New York University, she served as a research and teaching assistant for the late Honorable A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. Katherine was one of two recipients of the prestigious Gary E. Moncreiffe Award for her written analysis of the Family Court Act, which pertained to removing crack addicted mothers from their children.

Prior to becoming a legal recruiter, Katherine served as an associate at the law firm of Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler. While at Kaye Scholer, she focused on complex chapter eleven reorganizations and she served on the firm's Recruiting Committee. Katherine was also a writing and research assistant to the late Benjamin Weintraub. She then joined USA Networks (now known as NBC Universal) as an in-house attorney, where she focused on the launch of the SyFy Channel in Europe. Katherine also became of Counsel to the Wall Street firm of Baden Kramer Huffman & Brodsky, P.C. During this time, she developed her own client base and worked on numerous high-profile federal court cases. Katherine is admitted to practice law in the states of New York and New Jersey.

She is a former Vice-Chairperson of the Committee of Women in the Law of the New York State Bar Association (2008-2010) and a former President of the New York University Law Alumni Association Board (2008-2010). Katherine remains an active member of both the Committee and Board, respectively. She is also a member of the New York University Alumni Association. Katherine has been a frequent speaker on diversity and inclusion issues within the legal community. She is also a featured author of The New York Law Journal Magazine's "Diversity in Action" column, and has been a contributing book reviewer for The New York Law Journal.

Katherine was selected to join the Board of Directors of Legal Outreach in 2012. This rigorous academic program prepares children from underserved "communities for academic excellence in junior high school, high school and college," according to her website.

She is married and has a nineteen year-old son named Timothy who is currently a college sophomore and a Division I athlete. When Katherine isn't working (which is the rare occasion), she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exercising, and shopping for shoes and handbags. Katherine believes in purchasing high quality items at bargain prices. She frequents a wide variety of restaurants. Some of her recent favorites include Cecil's in Harlem, Mas Farmhouse, and Stanton Social. She is a frequent visitor of Harlem's A Taste Of Seafood. Her favorite books include Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, Wes Moore's The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates, Ron Hall and Denver Moore's Same Kind of Different as Me, and John Heilemann and Mark Halperin's Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime.

Katherine's Successful Career Path and Tips for Legal Recruiters

Does Katherine have a top memory from law school? She said she had a transformative experience at New York University School of Law. Katherine was a member of the Black Allied Law Students Association, which was founded on the campus of NYU and the founding chapter of BALSA has flourished for forty years. She recalled BALSA's national convention in Florida where an NYU student was elected the National Chairperson as well as their annual Kwanzaa dinners and celebrations. Katherine believes BALSA's protest to increase African American, Latino, and Asian professors was instrumental to creating a robust and distinguished environment for legal jurisprudence. She was also inspired by several law professors, which included A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., Anthony G. Amsterdam, Lawrence King, Jack Slain, and Sylvia A. Law.

What does it take to become a successful legal recruiter? Katherine noted that a successful legal recruiter should have integrity and perseverance. A recruiter must be resilient and he/she should effectively communicate with their candidates and clients. To do so, Katherine also pointed out that a recruiter must be knowledgeable about the legal industry and aware of constant changes. A recruiter should be able to assess the industry's landscape and predict what will occur in five to ten years on a domestic and international level.

What motivated Katherine to work as a recruiter? She admitted it was serendipitous. After speaking with a VP of Sales at a legal recruiting firm based outside of NYC, Katherine began her career as a business developer for their new NYC office before she moved on as a legal recruiter.

What advice would she give to someone who's brand-new to her position? Although Katherine believes making placements and money is important, she emphasized that it is crucial for legal recruiters to maintain their integrity. She continued to say that recruiters must treat each candidate's career with care. Katherine also advises recruiters to speak candidly with in-house counsel and law firm associates and partners and read business news and legal blogs so they can understand the market better.

What's one of the things that Katherine finds most challenging about her job? "I deal with incredibly smart people (both candidates and hiring managers) who have achieved tremendous success, and I have to sometimes convey to them that I know more about the recruiting process than they do."

What would she say is the most important thing that she has learned as a legal recruiter? Katherine said one of the most important things that she learned is that there should be more information available to law students regarding their careers. "Law students don't learn about the legal career process. This information should be provided to law students and individuals who are thinking about attending law school."

What is Katherine known for professionally? "I am known to provide a diverse/inclusive candidate pool. It's a seamless part of our business model and some clients seek us out specifically for that strength."

What does she look for to find the right fit? What makes a great candidate? Katherine explained that the right fit depends on the business objectives of the client: why hire and what will the hire add to the overall function of the business, both short-term and long term. As to the candidates, why move – how will you add value to the client and how will the new position satisfy your career objectives. It's important to consider the written job description, but also get further client input to get to the nitty gritty of the hire to drill down on the quantitative and qualitative skills. Only then can she assess the type of candidates who will mesh with her clients.

In regards to what makes a great candidate, she stated that she searches for candidates with a series of past successes who want to continue their success. Katherine added, "A great candidate is someone not active in the market place that is looking for success."

Does she have a recipe for a perfect match? The candid recruiter claimed, "There is no such thing as a perfect match."

Katherine discussed her strengths and one weakness as a recruiter. She acknowledged that she is straightforward and gives career advice to her candidates even if there are no current placement opportunities for them. Katherine informs her candidates if the position doesn't suit them and if there are different opportunities available for them. She scrutinizes each candidate's resume with a fine tooth comb to make sure that it is an accurate representation of the candidate's skills. As for her weakness, she is working on becoming more patient through the recruiting process and sometimes wonders if she is overly optimistic - as she always sees the glass as half-full.

Since Katherine has been operating her business for more than nine years, many readers may want to know where she sees the legal recruiting field in the next five years. "I don't know if the role of recruiters will be as relevant as it is now, although there is always the need to develop top talent, as no law firm can be successful without excellent attorneys. However, legal recruiters are potentially invaluable if not required for law school placement departments to help with creating relationships with law firms, corporations and consulting groups so that law schools do a better job of placing their law students who are looking for a job. They will have a robust effect on recent law school graduates."

Where does she see the legal field in the next five years? Katherine expects the legal market to continue its global expansion and she sees the South African market as an area of interest. She said there will be some lateral hires, but associate positions will not be available like they were before the recession. Domestically, there are some big-ticket emerging practice areas which surprisingly, very few law firms have any depth in. However, they will, trust me, as these new practice areas are big money makers and will be here to stay.

What motivates her to be a legal recruiter everyday? "I love to see goals realized in terms of business. I also love to work with my candidates and clients."

How does Katherine process fear? "I am not fearful much because of the obstacles I have overcome. Doubt and worry is what causes fear. What's the worst that can happen? Let go of things that you can't control and have faith, a flexible plan, then execute."

Has she learned something of value from her mistakes? "Absolutely. I acknowledge my mistakes and I evaluate what caused the decision."

Where does Katherine derive her confidence? She noted that she derives her confidence from her parents, faith, and how enslaved Africans endured unimaginable transgressions and continued to believe in a promised land – that tenacity is food for the soul. She also exercises routinely to keep the oxygen flowing to the brain.

Professional Associations, Being Motivated by Her Family and Teachers, Favorite Quote and Writing and Speaking Engagements

Katherine is a member of the New York University Alumni Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the Legal Outreach Program.

Who are the people that inspired her? Katherine said her family inspired her to do well in life and her parents were instrumental in planning a solid educational foundation. Her father, in particular, was insistent on excelling academically. Professor Higginbotham and her fifth grade teacher, Mr. Eugene Fechter, also inspired her. Katherine stated that her teachers are her unsung heroes who motivated her to strive for excellence and high standards.

Her favorite quote is by Reginald F. Lewis: "Keep going no matter what."

Katherine has been a contributing book reviewer for The New York Law Journal, and is a featured author of The New York Law Journal Magazine's "Diversity in Action" column. She also has been a frequent speaker on inclusion and diversity issues within the legal industry. Will Katherine continue her writing and speaking engagements? "Of course. I like to talk and I will have a blog. Maybe even on a TV show via YouTube or some other medium. The best way to communicate is in digital context. I am considering writing a book."

Being a Mentor and Katherine's Goals

Is Katherine a mentor? "I was a mentor in the Legal Outreach Program. I am an unofficial mentor to high school, college, and law students, as well as a few attorneys - I try to pay it forward, always."

Does Katherine have goals? Personally, Katherine said she would like to be more involved and relevant in the academic, social, and professional advancement of black men's lives. She perceives a silent crisis and would like to see more black men graduate from high school and college and move on to other professions. Professionally, Katherine considers the international market, particularly Southern African, Dubai, and Asia as attractive markets for potential expansion.