An endoscopic forceps, comprising: a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft including a pair of jaw members (110, 120) disposed at a distal end thereof, each of the jaw members including an insulative housing and a conductive surface, the conductive surfaces of the jaw members being disposed in general opposed registration relative to one another; a drive assembly disposed in the housing operable to move the jaw members relative to one another from a first position, wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a second position, wherein the jaw members are closer to one another, for manipulating tissue; a pair of handles (30a, 30b) operatively connected to the drive assembly, the handles being movable relative to the housing to actuate the drive assembly to move the jaw members; each jaw member adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy for treating tissue; and a knife assembly operatively associated with the housing, the knife assembly being selectively actuatable to advance a knife through tissue disposed between the jaw members when the jaw members are disposed in the second position; characterized by: a first switch disposed on the housing and being activatable to selectively deliver energy of a first electrical potential to at least one jaw member for treating tissue in a monopolar fashion; and a second switch disposed on the housing and being activatable to selectively deliver energy of a first electrical potential to one jaw member and selectively deliver energy of a second electrical potential to the other jaw member for treating tissue in a bipolar fashion; and further characterized in that one of the jaw members includes a monopolar extension that extends beyond the insulative housing of the one jaw member to permit delicate dissection of tissue, wherein at least one of the handles includes a knife lockout that prevents the knife assembly from being actuated when the jaw members are disposed in the first position. a housing having a shaft attached thereto, the shaft including a pair of jaw members (110, 120) disposed at a distal end thereof, each of the jaw members including an insulative housing and a conductive surface, the conductive surfaces of the jaw members being disposed in general opposed registration relative to one another; a drive assembly disposed in the housing operable to move the jaw members relative to one another from a first position, wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a second position, wherein the jaw members are closer to one another, for manipulating tissue; a pair of handles (30a, 30b) operatively connected to the drive assembly, the handles being movable relative to the housing to actuate the drive assembly to move the jaw members; each jaw member adapted to connect to a source of electrical energy such that the jaw members are capable of conducting energy for treating tissue; and a knife assembly operatively associated with the housing, the knife assembly being selectively actuatable to advance a knife through tissue disposed between the jaw members when the jaw members are disposed in the second position; characterized by: a first switch disposed on the housing and being activatable to selectively deliver energy of a first electrical potential to at least one jaw member for treating tissue in a monopolar fashion; and a second switch disposed on the housing and being activatable to selectively deliver energy of a first electrical potential to one jaw member and selectively deliver energy of a second electrical potential to the other jaw member for treating tissue in a bipolar fashion; and further characterized in that one of the jaw members includes a monopolar extension that extends beyond the insulative housing of the one jaw member to permit delicate dissection of tissue, wherein at least one of the handles includes a knife lockout that prevents the knife assembly from being actuated when the jaw members are disposed in the first position. a first switch disposed on the housing and being activatable to selectively deliver energy of a first electrical potential to at least one jaw member for treating tissue in a monopolar fashion; and a second switch disposed on the housing and being activatable to selectively deliver energy of a first electrical potential to one jaw member and selectively deliver energy of a second electrical potential to the other jaw member for treating tissue in a bipolar fashion; and further characterized in that one of the jaw members includes a monopolar extension that extends beyond the insulative housing of the one jaw member to permit delicate dissection of tissue, wherein at least one of the handles includes a knife lockout that prevents the knife assembly from being actuated when the jaw members are disposed in the first position.