Pre-Trial Review in UK courts explained

A Pre-Trial Review (PTR) is a court hearing held close to trial where the judge checks whether both sides are genuinely ready. It is not a settlement conference. It is not a full hearing on the merits. It is a gatekeeping appointment: the judge will look at your witness statements, your evidence bundle, your expert reports, and your trial estimate. If you are not ready, the judge will say so, and you will face consequences (costs orders, adjournment, or proceeding regardless of readiness). If you are ready, the judge will confirm the trial date and release you to proceed.

This guide explains what a PTR is, when it happens, how to prepare, and what civil and criminal procedures look like. It is written for litigants in person, defendants, claimants, and anyone facing trial in a UK court.

The short version

A Pre-Trial Review is a final check before trial. The judge will ensure:

• All witness statements have been served on time.
• Expert reports have been exchanged.
• You agree on the trial bundle (the agreed documents).
• You have provided a realistic trial time estimate.
• You have no outstanding applications that will derail the trial.

If you are not ready, the judge can: adjourn the trial (with costs against you), make an unless order (comply or your claim is struck out), or proceed with trial anyway. Most PTRs last 30 minutes to 2 hours. You must attend in person or via a representative. Failure to attend without reason is treated seriously.

At a glance

What a Pre-Trial Review is

A Pre-Trial Review is a case management hearing designed to ensure both parties are trial-ready. It sits between the Case Management Conference (CMC), held early in the case, and trial itself. The judge's role is to:

1. Check that procedural obligations have been met (statements served, reports exchanged, bundle prepared).
2. Assess the realism of the trial time estimate you have provided.
3. Deal with any outstanding applications or matters that could delay trial.
4. Give final directions if any steps remain incomplete.
5. Confirm the trial date or, if readiness is doubtful, adjourn.

In civil cases, the PTR is mandatory under CPR Part 29.7 for multi-track cases (those with a value over £100,000 or significant complexity). Fast-track cases (£25,000 to £100,000) may have a PTR, but often do not. In criminal cases, the PTR equivalent is the final Pre-Trial Preparation hearing in the Crown Court, held to ensure the case can proceed as scheduled.

The PTR is not a trial. The judge will not hear oral evidence or arguments on the merits. Nor is it a settlement negotiation forum (although judges may invite settlement discussion). It is a gatekeeping hearing: the judge is checking readiness, not making a judgment on liability or guilt.

When PTR happens

PTR usually occurs 4 to 8 weeks before trial in civil cases and 2 to 4 weeks before trial in criminal cases. The exact timing depends on the complexity of the case and court listing. The judge sets the PTR date during the Case Management Conference or in a subsequent order.

You will be notified of the PTR date by the court at least 14 days in advance (longer in complex cases). If you do not receive notice, contact the court or your legal representative immediately. Failure to attend PTR without good reason can result in costs being awarded against you.

In some cases, if the parties confirm in writing to the court that they are trial-ready and all matters are agreed, the PTR may be dispensed with. However, judges rarely permit this in contested cases.

Civil PTR procedure

In civil courts, the PTR is governed by the Civil Procedure Rules, Part 29. The procedure is as follows:

Before PTR:

• Both parties must exchange and file skeleton arguments (short written statements of their case and legal position). These are typically no longer than 20 pages and set out the legal issues and key facts in dispute.
• Agree the trial bundle: a single, paginated collection of all documents that will be referred to at trial. Both sides must sign off on the bundle before PTR.
• Confirm that all witness statements have been served and are not to be called (unless the other side has objected and the judge has directed otherwise).
• Confirm that all expert reports have been exchanged, and that any expert evidence is agreed or in dispute.
• Prepare a realistic trial time estimate. This should be agreed between the parties if possible. If you cannot agree, each side provides its own estimate.
• Check that all applications and interlocutory orders have been made. If you still have an application to bring, raise it before or at PTR.

At PTR:

• The judge will ask each side (or their representatives) to confirm readiness.
• The judge will review the bundle and may ask questions about its preparation and content.
• The judge will review skeleton arguments and may pose legal questions.
• The judge will discuss the trial time estimate and may adjust it if it seems unrealistic.
• The judge will ask about any outstanding matters (applications, disclosure disputes, witness availability).
• If both sides are ready, the judge will confirm the trial date and release both parties.
• If one side is not ready, the judge may: adjourn the trial (with costs against the unprepared party), make an unless order, or, in some cases, proceed with trial regardless.

After PTR:

• Once the judge has confirmed the trial date at PTR, you are committed to trial. If you need further adjournments or changes, you must apply to court and show "good reason".

Criminal PTR procedure

In criminal courts (Crown Court), the PTR equivalent is the Pre-Trial Preparation (PTP) hearing, held under the Criminal Procedure Rules, Part 3, before a judge.

Before PTP:

• The prosecution must serve a trial summary (outline of their case, witnesses, exhibits).
• The defence must confirm whether there are any outstanding disclosure issues or applications.
• Both sides must agree on the trial bundle of exhibits.
• The defendant (with counsel) must confirm that they have received advice on plea, and whether they intend to plead guilty or not guilty.
• The judge will be notified of any applications for bail renewal, witness anonymity, or reporting restrictions.

At PTP:

• The judge asks the prosecution to confirm readiness.
• The judge asks the defence whether the defendant is represented and whether advice on plea has been given.
• The judge may ask whether a guilty plea is entered. If so, the trial date is vacated and a sentencing hearing is scheduled.
• If not guilty, the judge will check that both sides are trial-ready (witnesses available, exhibits agreed, disclosure complete).
• The judge will set a trial date or confirm an existing trial date.
• The judge will make any final orders about witness arrangements, special measures, or exhibits.

In criminal cases, the defendant must attend PTP in person unless the judge has granted exemption (e.g., on grounds of ill health or administrative convenience). Absence without good reason can result in the case proceeding in the defendant's absence.

What the judge checks

At PTR, the judge will systematically check the following:

Witness statements:

• Have all witness statements been served on time and in the correct format?
• Are all witnesses who will give evidence identified?
• Has the other side objected to any witnesses? If so, has the judge ruled?
• Will any witnesses give evidence by video link? Has that been booked with the court and the witness?

Expert evidence:

• Have all expert reports been exchanged and served on the other side at least 6 weeks before trial?
• Have the experts met and prepared a joint statement setting out areas of agreement and disagreement?
• If there are multiple experts in the same field, have they conferred?
• Are you asking the court for permission to call expert evidence? If so, is the expert suitably qualified?

The trial bundle:

• Is the bundle paginated and indexed?
• Have both sides agreed on the contents? The judge will ask you both to confirm.
• Are exhibits clearly marked and legible?
• Does the bundle contain only documents that will be referred to at trial?

Trial time estimate:

• How long do you say the trial will take? (Include opening, evidence from each side, closing, judge's deliberation time.)
• Is this realistic? The judge will challenge estimates that seem too short or too long.
• Have you accounted for cross-examination, re-examination, and judicial questions?

Listing:

• Is the trial date still suitable for both sides and their representatives?
• Can all witnesses attend on that date?
• Is the courtroom availability confirmed?

Trial estimate and time allocated

Your trial time estimate is critical. It determines how much court time is allocated and whether the trial can proceed as scheduled.

In civil cases, you must provide a realistic estimate. It should include:

• Opening (claimant's counsel or party): 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Claimant's evidence (examination and cross-examination): varies by number and complexity of witnesses.
• Defendant's evidence and cross-examination.
• Closing submissions (both sides): 30 minutes to 1 hour each.
• Judge's deliberation time (at least 1 day for a complex case).

The judge will challenge any estimate that seems inflated (to secure court time) or deflated (to avoid lengthy adjournment). If the judge thinks the estimate is unrealistic, they may:

• Allow less time than requested and warn that the case will be cut short if time runs out.
• Adjourn to a later date with more court time available.
• Direct that opening or closing be in writing rather than oral.

In criminal cases, the prosecution and defence should jointly propose a realistic estimate. The judge will press if it seems too short or too long.

Skeleton arguments often required

A skeleton argument is a written summary of your case: the legal issues, key facts, and authorities. It is not a full written argument but a framework for oral argument at trial.

At PTR, you will often be ordered to file skeleton arguments (a written form of this is the "Case Summary" in some jurisdictions). These should:

• Set out the issues in dispute.
• Identify the key authorities (case law, statutes) that will be relied upon.
• Flag any areas where you disagree with the other side.
• Be no longer than 20 pages (unless the court permits otherwise).
• Be filed at least 2 weeks before PTR.

The judge will use your skeleton arguments to prepare for PTR and trial. Come to PTR ready to discuss your skeleton argument and answer the judge's questions about it. If you have not prepared one, the judge may adjourn PTR or make adverse costs orders.

Bundle preparation deadline

The trial bundle must be agreed and delivered to the court and the other side at least 2 weeks before PTR (and therefore at least 6 weeks before trial, in most cases). If the bundle is late or deficient, the judge may:

• Postpone PTR to allow time for the bundle to be properly prepared.
• Proceed with PTR and make a costs order against the defaulting party.
• Refuse to allow you to rely on documents not in the bundle at trial.

The party preparing the bundle (usually the claimant in civil cases) bears the cost. If you are litigating in person, you can still prepare a bundle by:

• Collecting all documents that will be referred to.
• Arranging them in logical order (chronological, by party, by topic).
• Numbering each page consecutively.
• Creating an index or table of contents.
• Printing copies for the judge, the other side, and any witnesses.
• Delivering hard copies and (if the court is set up for it) an electronic version (PDF or searchable format).

Many courts now prefer electronic bundles, especially if the case is remotely conducted or the bundle is very large.

What happens if a party is not ready

If you come to PTR and you are not ready, the judge will ask you why. You must give a good reason. Acceptable reasons include:

• A key witness is ill or unavailable.
• An expert report is delayed but will be served within days.
• There is a live application that will affect trial readiness (e.g., a summary judgment application).

Poor reasons include:

• You have not had time to prepare.
• You are still gathering documents.
• You are hoping to settle and have not taken trial preparation seriously.

Consequences of non-readiness:

Adjournment with costs: The judge may postpone trial to a later date and order the unprepared party to pay the other side's costs. These costs can include legal fees, expert fees, and lost court time. In some cases, the costs order may be substantial.

Unless order: The judge may make an "unless order": "Unless you do X by date Y, your claim will be struck out." This is used in civil cases when one party is seriously in default. An example: "Unless the claimant serves the expert report by 15 May 2026, the claim is struck out." If you breach an unless order, the claim is automatically dismissed, and you lose the case without trial.

Proceeding despite non-readiness: In some cases, the judge may decide that the trial will go ahead as scheduled, even if one side is not fully ready. This is rare and used only in exceptional circumstances. If this happens, the unprepared party will be at a severe disadvantage and may face an unfavourable judgment and costs.

Costs sanctions: Even if the trial is adjourned, the judge will usually make an order that the unprepared party pays the costs of the adjournment. This is a financial penalty that can run into thousands of pounds.

What you (litigant in person) should bring to PTR

If you are representing yourself, bring the following to PTR:

• A copy of the trial bundle (paginated, indexed, agreed with the other side if possible).
• Your skeleton argument (a short written statement of your case, 5 to 20 pages).
• A realistic trial time estimate, broken down by: opening, your evidence, the other side's evidence, closing, judge's thinking time.
• Confirmation that all witness statements have been served and the list of witnesses you intend to call.
• Confirmation that all expert reports have been served and the names and qualifications of experts.
• Any applications that are still outstanding (with court documents and hearing dates if scheduled).
• Proof that you have served all required documents on the other side (e.g., email receipts or court records).
• Your contact details (address, phone, email) and, if you are represented, your representative's contact details.
• Any medical or personal circumstances that may affect trial (e.g., if you or a key witness has a disability or health issue, alert the judge early).

Bring several copies of the bundle and your skeleton argument: one for the judge, one for the other side, and one for yourself.

How long PTR takes

Most PTRs last between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Simple cases, where both sides are obviously ready and there are few outstanding matters, may be over in 30 minutes. Complex cases, where there are disputes about the bundle, expert evidence, or trial estimate, may run to 2 hours or longer.

The judge will try to be efficient, but will not rush. If the judge has concerns about readiness, they will take time to address them. Do not assume that a quick PTR means you are in a strong position; it simply means there were few procedural obstacles.

Criminal PTRs in the Crown Court are often shorter (20 to 40 minutes) because the procedural focus is narrower: plea confirmation, trial logistics, and outstanding orders.

Day to day: preparation timeline

Here is a realistic timeline for preparing for PTR:

8 weeks before trial (when PTR will be scheduled):

• You will be told the PTR date by the court.
• Confirm that you have served all witness statements (at least 8 weeks before trial).
• Begin organizing the trial bundle.

6 weeks before trial:

• All expert reports must be served and exchanged.
• The trial bundle must be agreed and delivered to the court and the other side.
• Prepare your skeleton argument.
• Confirm your trial time estimate with the other side (if possible).

4 weeks before trial:

• File your skeleton argument with the court.
• Confirm that all outstanding applications have been made or withdrawn.
• Check that all witnesses can attend trial on the scheduled date.
• Alert the court if any witness needs special arrangements (e.g., video link, separate waiting room, interpreters).

2 weeks before trial (shortly after PTR):

• PTR hearing takes place.
• Trial date is confirmed by the judge.
• Any final directions are issued (e.g., hand-ups, opening statements to be served).

1 week before trial:

• Prepare your trial bundle (print copies, organize exhibits).
• Prepare opening submissions if required.
• Brief your witnesses on their evidence and cross-examination.
• Prepare yourself psychologically for trial.

Trial week:

• Arrive early on the first day.
• Ensure all witnesses are present and ready.
• Have your bundle, notes, and skeleton argument with you in court.

Common misconceptions

"The PTR is a chance to settle." Wrong. PTR is not a settlement negotiation. It is a case management hearing. The judge may invite settlement discussion, but that is not the primary purpose. If you want to negotiate, do so before or after PTR, not during the hearing.

"If I am not ready, I can just ask for an adjournment." Wrong. The judge will not grant an adjournment lightly. You must show good reason. If you ask for an adjournment at PTR because you have not prepared properly, the judge will likely make a costs order against you and warn you that further delays will not be tolerated. Poor time management is not a good reason.

"The judge will make a partial judgment at PTR." Wrong. The judge will not hear evidence or make a judgment on the merits at PTR. PTR is about readiness, not the case itself. Judgment comes at trial.

"I do not need to attend PTR in person; my lawyer can go alone." In civil cases, your representative can attend PTR on your behalf, but your presence strengthens the case and shows commitment to trial. In criminal cases, the defendant must attend unless specifically exempted by the judge.

"The trial bundle does not matter; it is just paperwork." Wrong. The trial bundle is essential. It is the document foundation of the case. If it is disorganized, incomplete, or disputed, the judge will lose confidence in your preparation. A neat, paginated, agreed bundle tells the judge that you are serious and ready.

"Skeleton arguments are optional." Wrong. In most cases, the judge will require skeleton arguments. If you do not serve one, the judge may adjourn PTR or make a costs order. Skeleton arguments are your written opening; they tell the judge what your case is about before trial begins.

Related concepts

• Case Management Conference (CMC) explained: The earlier hearing where initial directions are given.
• Skeleton argument explained: How to write the framework for your case.
• Witness statement in UK courts: Rules for serving and using witness evidence.
• Expert reports in civil litigation: When and how expert evidence is used.
• Trial bundles and bundles of authorities: How to prepare the core documents for trial.
• Costs orders in civil litigation: How courts award costs against parties that breach directions.
• Unless orders explained: What happens when the judge gives you a final deadline.
• Adjournment of trial: When and why trials are postponed.
• Trial preparation for litigants in person: Step-by-step guide to getting ready for trial.

Sources

• Civil Procedure Rules, Part 29: Case Management: Further Procedural Rules. Ministry of Justice. https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/rules/part-29
• Criminal Procedure Rules, Part 3: Case Management. UK Judiciary. https://www.judiciary.uk/guidance/criminal-procedure-rules/
• Practice Guidance on Civil Case Management (Disclosure, Trial Preparation, Trial). UK Judiciary, 2020. https://www.judiciary.uk

Written by Peter Kolomiets, founder of CaseCalm. UK content reviewed 2026-05-28.

Disclaimer: This page provides general information about UK Pre-Trial Reviews. It is not legal advice. The rules and procedures described are based on current law and court practice but can change. Court procedures vary by region and judge. Before your own PTR, consult a qualified solicitor or barrister, or contact your local court for specific guidance.