The text discusses both the law governing the civil pretrial process and the skills needed by counsel during pretrial proceedings. The law discussed is the law applicable to federal civil proceedings, primarily the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. State counterparts to these federal rules have been adopted in a majority of jurisdictions, and the pretrial skills considered in the text are essential to lawyers in both state and federal practice. The text provides the scope and highlights you need to excel in understanding this field. This will enable you to answer exam questions more quickly and accurately, and enhance your skills as an attorney. The Nutshell Series has long been one of America"s favorite study guides. Don"t let the convenient size fool you…the Nutshell is a comprehensive study guide, covering the most important issues and law. Nutshells are written by outstanding authorities who are widely recognized as experts in their fields. Many of the titles are written by leading casebook and hornbook authors. The Nutshell is the perfect reference guide for a succinct summation of the law. Nutshells are widely used by practitioners, professors and law students as a fast, convenient and reliable source of law.