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 Illinois, a pretrial conference is a key step in the civil litigation process, designed to streamline the upcoming trial. It is governed by the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure and local court rules. During this conference, the judge and attorneys from both sides discuss the case's progress, set timelines for completing discovery, exchange witness lists, and may address settlement possibilities. The goal is to clarify the issues that will be presented at trial, eliminate unnecessary claims or defenses, and agree on certain facts to avoid unnecessary proof. The judge may issue a pretrial order that outlines the agreements made and decisions taken during the conference, which becomes part of the case record. This order helps ensure that the parties are clear about their responsibilities and deadlines leading up to the trial. The specific timing and content of the pretrial conference can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the court's schedule.