In 1977 he graduated from the Leningrad State University.
Mr Yaroslavtsev began his judicial career as a secretary of sessions in the people's court of Leningrad's Oktyabrsky district; he went on to become a judge of the Leningrad (St.Petersburg) city court. In 1985 - 1994 he had served as chairman of the first instance criminal section in the Leningrad (St.Petersburg) city court.
Member of the qualification college of judges of St.Petersburg. Ph.D in law. Lawyer Emeritus of the Russian Federation.
A Judge of the Constitutional Court since October 1994.