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 South Carolina, a pretrial conference is a procedural step in the civil litigation process where the parties, through their attorneys, meet with a judge to discuss the case and plan for the trial. This conference aims to streamline the issues, schedule deadlines for motions and discovery, identify witnesses and evidence, and explore the possibility of settlement. The South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, particularly Rule 16, govern the conduct of pretrial conferences. During the conference, the judge may issue a pretrial order that outlines the agreements between the parties and the court's decisions on various procedural matters. 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. In federal cases, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure apply, with Rule 16 providing similar guidance for the conduct of pretrial conferences.