Our Journey
The professional paths of longtime trial partners Victoria Santoro and Jessica Gray mirrored those of many other lawyers. When Tori was growing up, she was the kid who was always told, “You should be a lawyer.” So she did. Jess, on the other hand, always wanted to make a positive impact on people and their communities and eventually found law as her calling. But that is exactly where the similarities between other personal injury lawyers, and Tori and Jess, end.
Victoria Santoro: A Passion for Trial Work
Tori’s passion for trial work was ignited during her time in law school. She realized that her place was not behind the scenes but in the courtroom. “At BC, there were so many clinical options available, and I used every one of them, working in DA’s offices and then doing a semester in practice at the US Attorney. It was through these opportunities that I developed my love for trial work. By the time I graduated with my law degree, all I wanted to do was try cases. That has never stopped. If anything, it has only gotten stronger,” Tori said.
Jessica Gray: Advocacy and Justice in the Courtroom
Jess’s passion for law was sparked by her senior thesis on racial inequality in death penalty sentencing. After analyzing the topic from a sociological perspective, she realized that becoming a lawyer would allow her to do something about the issues in the justice system, rather than only study them. “Similar to Tori, I understood right away that I did not want to specialize in an area of law where I would not be in the courtroom representing real people. While I was a student at Suffolk Law, I participated in the criminal defense clinic, where I was able to be on my feet in the courtroom, representing real clients who trusted me and relied on me for support and guidance. If I didn’t know it before, I knew it then: I belonged in the courtroom advocating for people who needed their voices heard,” Jess said.
Our Shared Commitment as Personal Injury Lawyers
Advocacy is at the heart of their work, which is how Tori and Jess came together seamlessly on a professional and personal level. When asked about Jess, Tori said, “Jess is someone who I discover constantly. With every challenge, every hard day, every difficult decision, she has always been steadfast and clear-minded. Jess sees to the heart of every issue without hesitation, and she is utterly and completely fearless. I learned this working in two different law firms together, going through life together, becoming partners, and building a business together. Perhaps she is her most fearless when playing hide and seek with my son.”
Jess returned the sentiment by adding, “You rarely think about a lawyer as someone who wears their heart on their sleeve, but that is the epitome of who Tori is to her core, and that’s what makes her an incredible confidant for her clients and a light in the courtroom. Litigation can be unpredictable and daunting. Tori brings calm to her clients and steadiness in the storm. She protects her clients fiercely, just as she does with the people in her own life. It was her empathy, her ability to be her true authentic self, and her willingness to battle for her clients that not just confirmed our shared values but truly inspired me and continues to every day. Whether as a client, a friend, or a trial partner, Tori is who you want by your side.”
Building a Boston Law Firm
The establishment of their law firm was ignited by the knowledge that so much more was possible. As their practices developed alongside their confidence, they decided to take all of their learned lessons and build something better that works well for them and their team members. Both of them thoroughly understand the difficulties that come with trial work, but it’s the belief in their clients that keeps them going. “It is difficult on the best days, and you can work for years only to be disappointed in the result. But you can be a trial lawyer, and you can also be a person, a friend, a mom, a world traveler, a yogi, and a grandparent,” Tori said.
Jess added, “Through practicing law with Tori, developing my reputation as a personal injury lawyer, and receiving case referrals from other lawyers, former clients, loved ones, prior jury members, friends of friends, and more, I realized that being the lawyer I want to be and living the life I want to lead do not need to be mutually exclusive. Tori and I shared the passion of wanting to build something better for each other and our team. But trial work is not for the faint of heart. It can be all-consuming. We believe that being the best lawyers we can be requires nurturing all the other roles we play in our lives and doing the things that make us the most happy and fulfilled.”
Santoro & Gray: A Vision of Justice and Humanity
Tori and Jess’s partnership is not just about their shared love for trial work but their shared values of advocacy and resilience. Through their experiences both in and out of the courtroom, they have built a firm that passionately advocates for its clients and nurtures the lives of its members.
Santoro & Gray is a safe space where law and life intersect, showcasing what is possible when people come together with a vision of justice and humanity.
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