Ari Arletha Saint-Jean is an attorney at Varner & Brandt’s Riverside office.
Ari earned her law degree from the University of California, Irvine School of Law, where she gained substantial hands-on experience through clinical, pro bono, and extracurricular involvement. As a member of the Intellectual Property, Arts, and Technology Clinic (IPAT), she worked closely with artists on copyright matters and advised journalists, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs on issues related to privacy and freedom of expression. She also served as an advanced researcher in the Clinic’s Press Freedom Project, the only clinic on the West Coast dedicated to assisting print, online, and audio journalists. Through the project, Ari helped provide free legal services to independent and investigative journalists, supporting clients on a range of First Amendment and media law issues.
In addition to her clinic work, Ari was deeply committed to public service and pro bono efforts. She participated in the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), advocating for the rights of displaced persons and refugees. Ari also volunteered with the Saturday Academy of Law, working alongside certified teachers in a pipeline program for ninth-grade students. Volunteers taught lessons on the First Amendment, case briefing, the U.S. court system, and recent constitutional challenges that have impacted society.
Before law school, Ari attended the University of California, Irvine, where she majored in political science and graduated in just three years.
She was an active member of the law school community, serving as Co-President of the Black Law Students Association, an advisor of the Student Bar Association, and Secretary of the Entertainment Law Society, where she collaborated with in-house attorneys across the music, film, and sports industries.
In her free time, Ari enjoys painting, reading, and practicing her French.
Honors & Awards
• Recipient, First-Year Merit Scholarship
• Pro Bono Achievement Award for completion of qualifying volunteer service hours
