"This fifth edition of Sword & Shield: A Practical Approach to Section 1983 Litigation is substantially reorganized to provide practitioners with easier access to the information they need as they are handling civil rights claims"--

The Model Rules of Professional Conduct provides an up-to-date resource for information on legal ethics. Federal, state and local courts in all jurisdictions look to the Rules for guidance in solving lawyer malpractice cases, disciplinary actions, disqualification issues, sanctions questions and much more. In this volume, black-letter Rules of Professional Conduct are followed by numbered Comments that explain each Rule's purpose and provide suggestions for its practical application. The Rules will help you identify proper conduct in a variety of given situations, review those instances where discretionary action is possible, and define the nature of the relationship between you and your clients, colleagues and the courts.

Each issue concentrates on a different topic.

This new Second Edition volume provides an extensive collection of jury charges for the wide range of issues in cases brought under Section 1983. This invaluable resource provides numerous sample jury instructions, insightful commentary, and circuit-by-circuit annotations. Each charge is preceded by comments from the authors, variations to the charge depending on jurisdiction and circumstances, supporting case citations broken down by circuit, and cross references to pertinent sections of text in the other volume. Sample instructions are also contained on a companion CD-ROM. Also available as part of the Section 1983 Litigation Complete Six-Volume Set.