A pretrial conference—also known as a pretrial hearing or scheduling conference—is an informal meeting or discussion in the early stages of a lawsuit during which the attorneys and the judge work to schedule important deadlines in the lawsuit; identify important witnesses and documents; discuss settlement; and narrow the issues for trial.

The court will usually sign a pretrial order that includes its rulings and the parties' agreements on the matters discussed at the pretrial conference.

The pretrial conference is essentially a project management plan for the litigation. The timing of the pretrial conference and the issues to be addressed are usually included in the state's rules of civil procedure or code of civil procedure—or in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in federal court.

In Arizona, a pretrial conference is a critical step in the civil litigation process. It is governed by the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure, particularly Rule 16. During this conference, the parties, through their attorneys, and the judge discuss the case to streamline the upcoming trial. The objectives include setting a timetable for the completion of discovery, filing of motions, and the trial date itself. They also identify key witnesses and documents, explore potential settlement options, and work to narrow down the issues that will be presented at trial. The outcome of the pretrial conference is typically documented in a pretrial order, which outlines the agreements between the parties and the court's directives. This order serves as a roadmap for the litigation going forward. The specific timing and content of the pretrial conference may vary depending on the complexity of the case and the court's schedule.