Survey of the civil action
Jurisdiction over parties or their property
Providing notice and an opportunity to be heard
Jurisdiction over the subject matter of the action : the court's competency
Venue, transfer, and forum non conveniens
Ascertaining the applicable law
Modern pleading
Joinder of claims and parties : expanding the scope of the civil action
Class actions
Pretrial devices for obtaining information : depositions and discovery
Case management
Adjudication without trial or by special proceedings
The right to a jury and other elements of trial
Appellate review
The binding effect of prior decisions : res judicata and collateral estoppel
Alternative dispute resolution.