coaches

emily shaw

head coach

Emily has been the Head Coach for UCI Mock Trial since 2017. She earned her Ph.D. in psychology — specializing in jury decision-making — from UCI in 2021. She now works as a jury consultant for a firm in LA.

Julie Jones

Julie competed with UCI Mock Trial from 2022 - 2024, joining in her third year as a transfer student from community college. Captaining in her first and second years in the program, Julie was integral in helping her team earn a bid to regionals, and captained a first place winning team. Since then, Julie has elevated UCI Mock Trial as Assistant Tournament Director, and has contributed to UCI’s current #15 national ranking as a competitor on our top team. Julie is currently working full time at a personal injury firm and applying to law school.

assistant coach

Caitlin todd

Caitlin competed for Anteater Mock from 2022-2025. In their time with the program, Caitlin served as Tournament Director and captained five teams, leading one to a bid at regionals. Currently, Caitlin is working at a local law firm as they work toward completing their triple major at UCI. After graduation in 2026, Caitlin will continue working as they apply for law school.

assistant coach

daniel dickinson

assistant coach

Daniel competed for Anteater Mock Trial from 2022-2025. Over the course of his eventful mock career, he captained two Fall teams and won approximately four witness awards. He is finishing his B.S. in Psychology with Criminology and Queer Studies minors before pursuing his Master’s and PhD in Forensic Psychology.

Jordan Schleifer

Assistant coach

Jordan, improv extraordinaire, competed for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mock Trial from 2022 until 2025. After trading the Central Coast for Irvine, he began law school at UCI, where he now coaches the undergraduate mock trial team. Jordan won five individual awards throughout his career, served on the AMTA Student Advisory Board, and coached Cal Poly SLO at Nationals. In his free time, he can be found cooking for his friends and swingin’ on the dance floor.

Dylan Darwish

assistant coach

Dylan is an alum and former A-Team captain and treasurer, earning twelve individual attorney and witness awards throughout his time on the team. He is now pursuing his J.D. at UCLA Law and competing on UCLA Law’s trial team. Beyond law, Dylan has a background in professional acting, with experience in film and television.

sophia hobby

assistant coach

Sophia competed for UCI Mock Trial from 2021-Fall 2024. During her years on the team, she won both All-Regional and All-National Witness awards, and helped her team win multiple SPAMTAs. She also ran several workshops to improve team leadership and performance skills.

Josiah Jones

Josiah competed with UCI Mock Trial from 2020 - 2024, serving as both the program’s President and A-Team captain. During his time at UCI Mock Trial, he won over twenty attorney and witness awards, including two All-American attorney awards. Josiah competed at Trial By Combat twice and placed 2nd in 2023. After graduation, Josiah will be working at a local law firm and applying to law school.

assistant coach

saga chidella

Saga graduated with a B.A. in Business Economics in 2022 after she competed on the UCI Mock Trial team for two years. After two years of working in accounting/finance, she is currently attending UCI Law School.

assistant coach

Varshini Srikanthan

assistant coach

Varshini is an alum and former President of UCI Mock Trial, and she captained her A-Team to a top five finish at Nationals. She has won numerous attorney and witness awards, including an All National Attorney award. She is now pursuing her J.D. at UCLA Law School and competes on UCLA law’s trial team.

iris gillam

assistant coach

Iris competed for UCI Mock Trial from 2021-2025 while captaining multiple teams for the majority of that time. She led her team to three consecutive first places at Slo Town Hoe Down, two first place trophies at Anteater, and eleven team trophies overall. Currently she is the operations manager at her father’s company, and plans to continue helping out with UCI Mock Trial while also helping out her high school mock trial team.