2007 Recipient of the OCPA

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Chris Garber

Chris received her B.A. degree in Spanish from Pepperdine University in Malibu, and her paralegal certificate from the University of California, Irvine Extension Paralegal Certificate Program in 1986. She currently works as a senior paralegal for Allergan, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company located in Irvine, California. She has been employed with Allergan since February 1990.

Professional Experience

What a career Chris has had at Allergan! In 2004, Chris was the in-house litigation paralegal working on the Medavoy v. Allergan (Botox) case which culminated in a 3-month trial in Los Angeles County. Her role necessitated long hours in the courtroom when the trial was in session, serving as the corporate representative, coordinating witnesses and outside counsel. At the end of the successful trial, Allergan personally recognized Ms. Garber's contribution to the victory with an “Allergan Award for Excellence” presented by its general counsel.

Local Association Leadership

During the Medavoy trial Ms. Garber also efficiently and effectively served as the Orange County Paralegal Association (“OCPA”) President, running board meetings via conference call, handling association business via e-mail. She used her breaks, mornings and evenings to complete OCPA business, all from her hotel room in Los Angeles. Ms. Garber served on the OCPA Board of Directors from 2000 to 2004. She served as OCPA Treasurer from 2000-2001, Administrative Vice President in 2002, chaired OCPA's Educational Conference in 2002. She has also been a committee chair for Membership, Internet, Sustaining Membership, Scholarship, Bar Liaison, Salary Survey, Database, and the Career Conference.

Ms. Garber also served a two-year term as OCPA president for 2003 and 2004. Under her leadership OCPA'S financial reserves came into compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Priniciples. Chris instituted payment by credit card and via the Internet – which increased OCPA meeting and conference attendance and membership. Chris grew OCPA's membership from 500 to 600 to a record high 700+.

Current Role/Involvement with OCPA

Chris is currently OCPA's Database Coordinator/Master. Here's a short list of what that job entails: maintenance of OCPA membership database (voting, sustaining and student members); frequent trips to the Newport Beach Post Office retrieving OCPA mail and then distributing this mail, providing mailing labels and e-mail lists to OCPA section chair and appropriate OCPA personnel. Chris is also a valuable resource on OCPA history.

State Association Leadership

Chris has also been active in the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (“CAPA”), serving as OCPA's secondary representative in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, in addition to her position as secondary representative, she served as CAPA's Website coordinator, Records Retention Chair, Audit Committee member and Historian.

Education

Chris has taught the Fundamentals of Legal Assistantship class at UC Irvine Extension Paralegal Certificate Program since 1995. She also is a frequent guest lecturer to bar associations, UCI and other paralegal programs. Chris currently is the Internship Coordinator for UCI's paralegal program and serves on UCI's paralegal advisory board.

Chris also developed and currently teaches the In House Paralegal course offered through NALA's, NALA Campus LIVE! program.

Community Leadership

Chris currently serves on the Board of Directors of the West Newport Beach Association and is President of the Lido Homeowners Association. She finds time to serve as Allergan Team Captain of Allergan's Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer team organizing employees to participate in 10K walks raising money for breast cancer research and also serves as Allergan Team Captain for the Orange County Marathon.

Special Guests

Special Guests in attendance on the night Chris received her award: Chris's parents, Paul and Barbara Garber, sister Cynthia Garber, nephews Adrian and Blair Luchs, and longtime friend and mentor Deborah Ebert.

Speakers

Tributes were given by Deborah Ebert, Nancy Salzman from the UCI Extension Paralegal Certificate Program and a special video from Chris's Allergan attorneys Doug Ingram and Bill Scarff who were unable to attend in person.