Parties involved in a civil dispute are often able to reach a mutually acceptable compromise and settle the dispute. If the settlement covers the parties' entire dispute, the dispute ends, as do any ongoing legal proceedings related to the dispute. However, where the parties are not able to settle their dispute after a case has been filed in court, they must proceed to trial.

A civil trial is a formal meeting in a court of law where the parties present evidence and information to a judge (a bench trial) or a jury (a jury trial) who then decide on the validity of the claims presented. Whether a case is heard before a judge or a jury depends on the parties' preferences and the nature of the claims at issue.

This Toolkit offers resources that provide guidance on key tasks that counsel may have to perform when preparing for and conducting a civil bench or jury trial in California superior court, including: