Participating Career Counselors

Bruce Blackwell

Bruce Blackwell, President and Founder of Career Strategies International, Inc., in White Plains, NY, has been advising attorneys on career transition issues for nearly twenty years. He brought to that discipline two decades of corporate marketing and management experience. Early in his career, he was an award-winning editor and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist for Gannett Newspapers. He later became Vice President of Marketing for a cable TV network before transitioning into the motion picture industry, where he was Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs for New Line Cinema and Director of Publicity for MGM. While with Marketing Corporation of America, he consulted on marketing issues for companies like IBM, 3M, GE, Avon, Lorillard, and Burger King. Subsequently, he was on the U.S. Executive Committee for BASYS, the world’s largest broadcast automation software development firm. Before founding Career Strategies, he had been a Branch Manager and Senior Consultant for two of the leading career development firms in the Northeast. A noted author and lecturer on career issues, Mr. Blackwell has presented career transition seminars for the New Jersey Bar Association’s Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the FDIC, the State of Connecticut Legal Services division, and the New York County Lawyers Association. He has also been a panelist at career forums sponsored by The New York State Bar Association and American Lawyer Media, among others.

Cynthia Leeds Friedlander

Cynthia Leeds Friedlander is an executive coach, management consultant, career and communication coach, educator, lecturer, trainer, counselor, and group facilitator. Her areas of expertise include Communication, Executive Coaching, Professional Presence, Career Management/Transition, Leadership Development, Conflict Resolution, and Teambuilding. She has maintained a private career consulting and executive coaching practice since 1979, Cynthia Leeds Friedlander Consulting Services. Her consulting affiliations have included Partners International, Sirkin Associates and QED Consulting. She was a Vice President at The Strickland Group, from 1997 to 2000, providing career transition consulting, executive coaching, communication training, leadership development, team building, client management and a wide variety of organizational consulting, speaking presentation and seminar delivery. She was affiliated with Right Management Consultants, as a Senior Professional Services Consultant from 1985 to 1997. She has consulted extensively to law firms, legal associations, corporate legal divisions and general counsel departments, working with all levels including legal administrators, junior associates, associates, senior associates, partners, senior partners, managing partners, general counsels, heads of legal, and heads of business affairs. She has worked extensively with all levels of the workforce including CEO, Executive Director and President. Her consulting has included diverse business environments including entertainment, mass media, financial services, retail, manufacturing, consumer products, technology, legal, publishing, advertising, and marketing as well as various cultural, government, trade and educational organizations and associations.

She is a frequent presenter and seminar facilitator for diverse professional associations and businesses on the topics of effective communication, executive presence, and leadership. She has been a Counseling Associate and presenter for the Harvard Business School New York Career Assessment Seminars and a presenter for The Harvard Business School New York Club, has directed a career assessment program for Stanford Business School alumni and has been a Career Advisor for Wharton alumni. Her experience includes the Directorships of Career Services for the National Institute for the Psychotherapies and Yeshiva University, as well as coordinating the Ellen Morse Tishman Seminars at Hunter College of the City University of New York for college educated women with family responsibilities exploring re-entry into the workforce. She has also been an Adjunct Faculty member at Hunter College, City University if New York, teaching Adult Career Transition and Career Counseling in the Masters in Counseling program.

Her background includes extensive business experience in the fashion industry in both retail and wholesale manufacturing settings including Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, Charles of the Ritz Cosmetics, Van Raalte and specialty boutiques in Virginia and North Carolina.

She has been a volunteer for Share, a support organization for women with breast and ovarian cancer where she ran the Friends and Family Group and has led groups for women with cancer who are addressing difficult work situations. She has also presented career seminars for inner city students at Jobs For Youth in New York City, a cooperative program with major Fortune 100 corporations as sponsors. She is an Advisory Board Member and Facilitator for the Corporate Workplace Program for The Children’s Aid Society.

She holds a Masters Degree in Counseling from Hunter College and a Bachelors Degree from the University of North Carolina, has studied at the University of Grenoble, France and speaks French.

Amy Goldstein

Amy Goldstein is the founder of Grayson Allen, Inc., an executive legal search and talent advisory firm. Amy recruits for corporations and law firms and provides coaching services to attorneys as they advance their careers. She has presented to organizations, including the American, New York State and New York City Bar Associations, on topics related to strategic hiring as well as career transition and advancement and her articles have been published in Bloomberg Law, on Inhouseblog.com and in publications of the New York State Bar Association. Amy is a member of the New York City Bar Association Career Advancement and Management Committee, Director, Mentor and Committee Chair (Training Programs) for The Legal Mentor Network and Coach for OnRamp Fellowship, powered by Diversity Lab. She is included in Diversity Lab’s listing of “Top Lawyer Coaches”. Prior to beginning her recruiting career in January 2000, Amy was a litigator with a NJ based firm. She is a graduate of Tulane Law School and Rutgers College.

Irina Gomelskaya

Irina Gomelskaya is a Certified Life and Career Coach specializing in career advancement and transitions for lawyers. She is the Founder and Lead Coach at Ignite JD Strategies LLC and Senior Consultant at Beard Strategies, Inc. Irina empowers her clients to thrive in their current roles or pursue other meaningful and impactful legal and non-legal careers that are aligned with their personal goals, values, and priorities. A legal industry veteran with close to 20 years of experience in the field, Irina began her legal career at an Am Law 200 firm and spent eight years working on complex financial restructuring matters. In that role, she discovered her talent for mentoring junior associates and became a trusted advisor to many. Irina has been coaching attorneys for over a decade, helping hundreds of attorneys at all levels of seniority pursue rewarding careers and reignite their passion for the legal profession. She combines her warm, compassionate coaching style with action-oriented sessions that drive measurable outcomes.

Irina has held several senior roles at New York Law School where she oversaw recruitment and professional development programming and advised law students and recent grads through the job search and career exploration process for almost 10 years. Through her outplacement and career coaching roles at Beard Strategies and Davis Polk, Irina is experienced in coaching attorneys who are looking to transition into legal and non-legal roles in the private and public sectors.

Irina obtained her B.A. in Economics and Psychology, magna cum laude, from Barnard College, Columbia University and her J.D. from The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

She is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) as Professional Certified Coach (PCC). In addition, Irina is a long-standing member of the Career Advancement and Management Committee at the New York City Bar Association and a former Co-chair of the JD Advantage Working Group at the National Association for Law Placement (NALP). She enjoys being a panelist and speaker at many career programs sharing her insight into the legal industry, the job search process, and the challenges often faced by lawyers who are looking for a rewarding career that uses their unique skills and talents while allowing them to enjoy other personal interests. Irina loves spending time in nature, traveling abroad, cooking, writing poetry, and creating new jewelry designs.

Khara Kelsch

As a certified career and leadership coach with over 20 years of experience in the legal industry, my mission is to help attorneys, law firm professionals, and corporate leaders unlock their full potential—whether that means advancing their careers, strengthening leadership skills, or navigating career transitions with confidence.

I began my career as a BigLaw attorney before discovering my passion for coaching, professional development, and career growth in the legal field. Since then, I’ve partnered with lawyers of all levels (junior associates through senior partners), and professionals at every stage of their journey—helping them gain clarity, define success on their own terms, and take actionable steps toward their goals.

As a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with advanced training in career transition coaching, executive coaching, and leadership development, I bring a results-driven yet compassionate approach to every session. I’m a graduate of Cornell Law School and completed my coach training at iPEC (Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching).

My work is grounded in mindful, values-based, and holistic coaching principles, empowering clients to create meaningful, sustainable success in their careers and lives.

If you’re exploring career coaching or job transition support, please find me at www.apexlegalcoaching.com or on Instagram.

Linda E. Laufer

Linda E. Laufer is a career coach and counselor at Laufer Career Strategies. A former practicing attorney, Linda has 25 years of experience in coaching and counseling attorneys at all levels of experience, law students and other professionals on job search techniques and on career development and management skills.

Most recently, Linda served as an attorney development coach at Ropes & Gray for nearly six years. In that role, she coached associates on communication and presentation skills; executive presence; people, project and time management; organization and prioritization strategies; personal brand development, goal setting and implementation; and career path assessment. Prior to Ropes, she was the firmwide director of attorney development at Morgan Lewis & Bockius where, in addition to coaching associates, she also oversaw training, mentoring and upward feedback.

Her background also includes career services experience at Yale Law School, New York University School of Law and St. John’s University School of Law. She counseled law students and alumni on resumes and cover letters, interviewing and networking, career assessment, job search strategies, job offer evaluation and clerkship and public interest fellowship applications. Linda also developed and presented programs on job search topics.

Linda has been a speaker at many career-related programs at the New York City Bar Association, as well as law firms, law schools and other bar associations and professional organizations. She has also written extensively about career matters, including a weekly column, Crossroads, which appeared for eight years online for the New York Law Journal.

Linda began her career as a litigation associate at several large New York law firms where she focused on corporate, securities, copyright and trademark matters. She is a graduate of Cornell Law School and University at Buffalo. Linda has completed the Association for Training and Development coaching certificate. She is also a member of the New York City Bar Association’s Committee on Career Advancement and Management.

Adele Lemlek

Adele Lemlek is Managing Director, Coaching & Transition Services at Greiner Consulting Group. With almost 20 years of experience in the New York legal community, Adele provides career counseling to attorneys at all levels of seniority. She has a deep knowledge of legal market and broad experience in developing initiatives focused on career planning, skill development and professional transitions. Prior to joining us, she was the Director of Marketing for the New York City Bar Association where she re-branded and re-positioned the association to reach new demographics. Earlier, she held senior marketing roles for a number of top brand names in the legal services industry. A graduate of Boston University School of Law, she began her career as a tax litigator in New York City. She is admitted to the New York State Bar and is a member of the New York City Bar Association.

Swati Parikh

Swati Parikh is a certified career and leadership coach at Greater Good Careers. She has over 20 years of legal industry experience and specializes in individuals pursuing public sector, non-profit, and government careers.

She began her journey as a public interest housing lawyer, where she quickly discovered her passion for professional development and program management. While overseeing the organization’s internship and pro bono programs, she honed her skills in empathy, active listening, and her commitment to helping others succeed.

Swati’s career path then led her to New York Law School, where, as an Assistant Dean, she has coached thousands of individuals through major life and career decisions. This role allowed her to refine her ability to guide aspiring lawyers in defining and pursuing their career goals with clarity and confidence.

Swati became a private career coach to broaden her impact and she has enjoyed working with professionals and lawyers, helping them find clarity, joy, and fulfillment in both their professional and personal lives. Her approach is deeply personalized and results-oriented, ensuring that each client receives tailored strategies to navigate their unique career paths.

She finds a lot of fulfillment from mentoring and coaching others. Her expertise lies in career development, leadership coaching, and fostering a sense of purpose and satisfaction within the legal industry.

Swati is an active member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the National Association of Law Placement (NALP), and a member of the New York City Bar Association’s Committee on Career Advancement and Management.

Lauren Paxton

Lauren Paxton is a professional coach for lawyers, offering Career Transition, Leadership, and Business Development programs through her business Lauren Paxton Consulting LLC:  www.laurenpaxton.com.

Lauren is a practicing attorney and a former federal prosecutor.  She built a seven-figure book of business in private practice, guiding prestigious clients including the New York Governor’s Office, Fortune 500 companies, and C-suite executives, through high-stakes workplace disputes, investigations, and litigation.  Lauren achieved noteworthy outcomes for her clients including precedent-setting rulings at trial and on appeal.

As a Chambers & Partners ranked head of an employment practice, bar association section chair, peer mastermind group facilitator, and workplace thought-leader quoted in Forbes, Newsweek, and CFO Magazine, Lauren has a unique perspective on the challenges faced by lawyers and legal organizations both within and beyond the workplace.

Lauren appreciates the importance of getting important decisions right and operating with clarity when the stakes are high.  She meets clients where they are, coaching with empathy, insight, and practical tools rooted in neuroscience.

With specialized coaching training from the highly regarded Co-Active Training Institute (CTI), and a mindfulness practice grounded in Transcendental Meditation, Lauren finds deep intellectual and personal fulfillment in supporting high-achieving lawyers through pivotal moments of growth and transition.

Carroll Welch

Carroll Welch is a career coach and counselor and a former practicing attorney. She is Principal and Founder of Carroll Welch Consulting (www.carrollwelchconsulting.com). Through her consulting work, she supports attorneys and other professionals at all stages of career planning and development, including in developing job search plans; transitioning back into the paid workforce; moving into new employment venues or areas of focus; resume drafting and revising; networking; interview preparation; goal setting; and leadership development. Carroll previously worked with Pace Law School’s re-entry program, New Directions for Attorneys, where she supported attorneys in their efforts to return either to legal practice or an alternative careers. She serves as the Alumni Career Consultant at Fordham Law School. Earlier in her career, she practiced commercial litigation and employment law at two major law firms. Carroll is a member of the New York City Bar Association’s Advisory Committee for the New Lawyers Institute and is past chair and member of the Career Advancement and Management Committee. She is a member of the International Coach Federation, holds its Associate Certified Coach credential and is a Forbes Coaches Council member. She is a certified GetFive (formerly Five O’Clock Club) job search methodology coach and completed a certificate program in Executive and Organizational Coaching at New York University in 2013. She attended Johns Hopkins University for her undergraduate degree and the University of Virginia School of Law.