Q: Do I need a lawyer for a pre trail conference with only 3 day warning
Got a summons for pretrial conference on Thursday night and conference is wednesday
A: It sounds like you are being sued in small claims court. If that is the case, you may not need a lawyer for any of the proceedings, as the reason the small claims court exists is to have a simplified procedure that most laypersons can handle without a lawyer. However, depending on the nature of the case against you and the amount that the plaintiff is seeking, it may be worthwhile to consult an attorney. As far as the pretrial conference in small claims court, there is no testimony or evidence presented at that time. The judge finds out what the case is about (who will testify, any issues to be resolved prior to trial, etc.) and sets it for trial, usually for a date at least a month or two later. The Court might also have the parties attend a free mediation, in which the parties sit down with a mediator who assists them in determining if a settlement is attainable. If you call the Court Clerk's office, they can likely explain these procedures to you.
Terrence H Thorgaard agrees with this answer
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