Skip to content

Mediation and ADR

Mini-trial

Also called minitrial

An agreed ADR process in which each side presents its case to party representatives or an impartial third party, to set up realistic settlement talks.[1]

In more detail

Under Texas law, the impartial third party may give an advisory opinion on the merits, which doesn't bind the parties unless they agree it does and sign a written settlement agreement.[1] Federal law lists the minitrial among the ADR processes district courts may offer.[2]

Varies by state

Mini-trials are rare and run under each court's rules or the parties' agreement. Find your state’s rules.

Related terms

  • Summary jury trialAn ADR process in which each side presents its case to a panel of jurors, who may give a nonbinding advisory opinion on liability or damages to help settlement talks.
  • Moderated settlement conferenceA Texas ADR process in which each side presents its position to a panel of impartial third parties, who may give a nonbinding advisory opinion on liability, damages or both.
  • Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)Ways of resolving a legal dispute without a trial, such as mediation, arbitration, early neutral evaluation and settlement conferences.

Read next on MediationList

Sources

The official documents this definition is based on, with the date we last read each one. Definitions are in our own words.

  1. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 154 (Alternative dispute resolution procedures)tcss.legis.texas.govchecked ↩
  2. 28 U.S.C. § 651 (Alternative dispute resolution: authorization, definition)govinfo.govchecked ↩

General information, not legal advice. MediationList is not a law firm. Spotted an error? Tell us.

Cite this page

Page updated

MediationList. (2026, October 28). Mini-trial: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/mini-trial/

APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.