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 Florida, a pretrial conference is a key step in the civil litigation process. It is governed by the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, which outline the procedures for state court proceedings. During a pretrial conference, the judge and attorneys from both sides meet to discuss the case and set a timeline for the various stages of the litigation, including discovery deadlines, motions, and the trial date. The conference aims to streamline the issues for trial, identify key witnesses and evidence, and explore the possibility of settlement. The outcomes of the pretrial conference are typically recorded in a pretrial order, which sets forth the schedule and decisions made during the meeting. This order helps to ensure that the case proceeds efficiently and that both parties are clear about the court's expectations and the litigation timeline. If the case is in federal court, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure would apply, and similar pretrial procedures would be followed.