What is a pre-trial conference in civil law?

A pre-trial conference in civil law is a hearing whereby the parties to a civil action or lawsuit come together to discuss the potential for settlement of the dispute between them. The conference is presided over by a judge or magistrate, who guides the discussion and attempts to encourage the parties to reach an agreement. During the conference, both sides will present their arguments and their evidence to the judge or magistrate. The judge may also offer guidance on which legal points to focus on, suggest ways of settling the dispute, help the parties to work towards a compromise and make rulings on any certain matters. Ultimately, the parties may come to a binding agreement to resolve the dispute without going to trial, but the judge is not able to force either side to accept a settlement against their will. If the parties do not come to an agreement at the pre-trial conference, the case will move on to the trial phase. During the pre-trial conference, the judge may also narrow down the issues for trial, make rulings on any preliminary matters, set deadlines for any remaining pretrial tasks and discuss how the trial should proceed. The pre-trial conference is a crucial part of the civil law process in California and allows parties to potentially settle the dispute without going to trial. As such, it is an important step in the process that should not be overlooked.

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