A settlement conference involves the neutral evaluator sitting with counsel for the parties. A settlement conference will be shorter than a mediation, and may or may not include the parties participation in a sense other than to get their agreement to a settlement proposal. The neutral will listen to the facts, legal issues, and evidence that each counsel will present at trial and then discuss with them the strengths and weaknesses of their respective cases. The neutral also makes an evaluation as to how the case might be decided at trial. The objective wil be to get the parties to resolve the matter before the trial begins. The parties rely on the evaluation to provide feedback as to the relative strength of their position. Some neutrals will make an extra effort to utilize mediation skills to encourage the parties toward settlement.