Rule 212.5.Settlement Conference.

Adopted December 15, 2010 · Not amended since adoption · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 212.5 lets the court schedule a settlement conference at any time to try to resolve the case, requiring good-faith settlement efforts beforehand and the attendance of an attorney with knowledge and authority plus an insurance or similar representative with authority to settle.

Full Text of Rule 212.5

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) At any time, the court, sua sponte or on motion of any party, may enter an order in the form provided in Rule 212.6 scheduling a settlement conference, the purpose of which is to resolve the litigation. Prior to the conference date, the attorneys for the parties, or the parties if unrepresented, shall engage in good faith efforts to resolve the case.

(b) At a settlement conference scheduled pursuant to this rule,

(1) an attorney who will be trying the case, or another attorney who has sufficient knowledge of the claims asserted, defenses presented, relief sought and legal issues raised, and has the authority to act on behalf of the client shall attend the settlement conference;

(2) an insurance or similar representative, who has authority to negotiate and settle the case must be present at the conference, unless the court permits the representative to ensure that he or she will be available by telephone; and

(3) the court shall have discretion to order the attendance of other individuals as reasonably necessary to accomplish resolution of the case.

End

Plain-English Summary

This rule gives the court a dedicated settlement tool, separate from the broader pre-trial conference. On its own or on a party’s motion, the court may enter an order — in the form set by Rule 212.6 — scheduling a conference whose purpose is to resolve the litigation. Before the conference, counsel or the parties must make good-faith efforts to settle.

Attendance is specific. An attorney who will try the case, or one with sufficient knowledge of the claims and defenses and authority to act, must attend. An insurance or similar representative with authority to negotiate and settle must be present, unless the court permits that representative to be available by telephone, and the court may order others to attend as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who must attend a Rule 212.5 settlement conference?

A trial attorney or one with sufficient knowledge and authority to act, and an insurance or similar representative with authority to negotiate and settle — who must be present unless the court allows that representative to be available by telephone.

Do the parties have to try to settle before the conference?

Yes. Before the conference date, the attorneys or the unrepresented parties must engage in good-faith efforts to resolve the case.

Official Note

Official Note: Rule 212.3 governs a pre-trial conference which includes consideration of matters relating to the trial of a case. A settlement conference pursuant to this rule considers only the settlement of litigation.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 212.5 adopted December 15, 2010, effective January 15, 2011, 41 Pa.B. 214.

Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. This rule has not been amended since its adoption. Last verified June 30, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: settlement conferencesettlement authoritymandatory settlement conference