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 California, a pretrial conference is a procedural step in the civil litigation process where the parties, through their attorneys, and the judge discuss the progress and management of the case. This conference aims to streamline the issues, schedule important deadlines, identify witnesses and key documents, explore settlement possibilities, and generally set the stage for an efficient trial. The timing and conduct of pretrial conferences in California are governed by the California Code of Civil Procedure and local court rules. During the pretrial conference, the judge may issue a pretrial order that reflects the outcomes of the discussions, including any agreements made by the parties and the schedule for moving forward. This order serves as a roadmap for the litigation and ensures that both parties are clear on the expectations and deadlines leading up to the trial.