Arla Clark is a Legal Assistant at The Pride Law Firm, where she works with the sexual assault team. She earned her B.A. in Criminology and Justice Studies from California State University San Marcos (2009 to 2014). Her start in the field came early. She began working as a legal assistant for a small defense firm in Oceanside, California, during her junior year of high school, and she joined The Pride Law Firm in 2022.
Arla once thought she’d become a therapist, but she fell in love with the legal field instead. She spent 13 years on the defense side of cases, and she says moving over to the plaintiff side has been the best career decision she’s made. There’s far more reward and joy, she says, in knowing you’re helping people during a time of need.
She’s chosen to focus on sexual assault cases. That interest took root in college, in her Justice Studies courses, where she realized she wanted to help victims. Her message to survivors who are afraid to pursue their perpetrators in civil court is direct: don’t let the perpetrator keep you silenced, take back control, and make sure the attacker isn’t left unpunished or free to do the same thing to someone else.
Outside of work, Arla loves spending time with her family, going to concerts, walking her dogs, bowling, and playing mini golf.
A few fun facts about Arla
Favorite snack: Oreos
Dream job: Rihanna’s personal assistant
Person she’d most like to have dinner with: Tyra Banks
Favorite movie: Black Panther
