THIS week is as good a time as any to check out Alan Shore, the ethically challenged attorney played to perfection by James Spader on “The Practice.”

Shore – sneaky, smarmy and downright reptilian – just happens to be the most intriguing lawyer character to step into a TV courtroom in many seasons. And beginning this week, he’s the focus of a three-episode story arc airing smack in the middle of the February ratings sweeps (parts 2 and 3 are Feb. 22 and March 7, respectively).

That’s not bad for a new character on a series that was almost left for dead at the end of last season until executive producer David E. Kelley completely remade the show, dumping six characters, keeping four and adding two new ones, including Spader’s character.

You can see Shore in action starting tonight in a story that has him traveling from Boston to his hometown, where he’ll defend his closest childhood friend who is on trial for the murder of his mistress.

The episodes also boast a group of A-list guest-stars including Patrick Dempsey as Shore’s friend, Jill Clayburgh as the friend’s mother, Betty White as a nosy neighbor, and White’s “Mary Tyler Moore Show” co-star, Ed Asner, as the judge presiding over the case.

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THE PRACTICE

Sunday, 10 p.m., ABC