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 Wisconsin, a pretrial conference is a key step in the civil litigation process. It is governed by the Wisconsin Statutes and the local rules of the court where the case is being heard. During this conference, the parties, through their attorneys, and the judge discuss the case to streamline the issues for trial, set timelines for the completion of discovery, and schedule motions and other important events. The goal is to facilitate a more efficient trial or encourage settlement. The pretrial conference may also address the identification of witnesses and documents, and the possibility of settlement. Following the conference, the court typically issues a pretrial order that outlines the agreements made and the schedule for the case moving forward. The specific timing and content of the pretrial conference can vary depending on the court's rules and the complexity of the case. In federal cases, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure would apply, but for cases in Wisconsin state courts, the Wisconsin Rules of Civil Procedure are the guiding regulations.