• Founder

    Jaclyn Tortora is the founding partner of JT Legal Search, specializing in the placement of associates and partners within law firms, as well as in-house legal positions. With 20 years of experience in legal recruiting on both national and international levels, Jaclyn possesses deep industry knowledge and a keen understanding of how clients can successfully achieve their career objectives.

    She has a proven track record of placing top-tier legal talent in elite law firms, prominent financial institutions, and Fortune 500 companies. Renowned for her ability to build and maintain longstanding relationships with law firm leaders, Jaclyn plays a pivotal role in shaping firm growth and talent strategy. As a trusted advisor, she provides invaluable guidance to candidates navigating new career opportunities.

  • Director of Associate Placement

    Michelle Soto-Alba is a Director of Associate Placement at JT Legal Search, specializing in law firm and in-house associate placements. With nearly 20 years of experience in legal recruitment, talent management, and integration, Michelle has collaborated with attorneys at all levels across a diverse range of practice areas. Her career includes roles at top global law firms such as Kirkland & Ellis, Fried Frank, and Dechert LLP. Additionally, she also has extensive experience recruiting for Intellectual Property boutique firms, and understands the nuances that IP boutique firms require. Michelle’s recruitment career started while working at JPMorgan Private Bank in MBA Recruiting & Training, which allowed her to gain a solid foundation in talent acquisition before transitioning to the legal market.

    Michelle’s experience working within recruitment departments at top-tier law firms, has provided her with in-depth market expertise and insider knowledge of law firms' recruiting and hiring strategies. She leverages this expertise to effectively counsel candidates and legal employers, while working to ensure successful outcomes for both parties. She also enjoys assisting candidates with interview preparation and general career guidance.

    In addition to her recruitment career experience, Michelle has cultivated many strong relationships within the legal recruiting community and has been an active member of the National Association of Law Placement (NALP), since 2005. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Pace University.

  • Manager of Associate Placement

    Barb Warren is the Manager of Associate Placement at JT Legal Search. Barb is an accomplished executive with 25 years of expertise in business development, client relations, and strategic marketing. Now focused on legal recruiting, Barb provides guidance to associates and counsel across diverse practice areas in the New York and Los Angeles markets.

    Having successfully founded and scaled businesses, Barb has built strong client relationships and driven revenue growth across multiple industries. She is highly skilled at identifying top talent and connecting professionals with the right opportunities. Her strategic mindset, high work ethic, combined with a passion for professional networking make her a trusted partner in legal recruitment.