Nassau County Preliminary Conference.
What Every Law Firm Needs to Know.

The preliminary conference in Nassau County is where the court locks in the discovery schedule for the life of your case. It runs in a central Preliminary Conference Part, in person, and non-appearance carries real consequences under the Uniform Rules. This guide covers how the PC is scheduled, what the part expects, what to bring, the most common mistakes, and how to handle coverage when conflicts arise.

Book PC Coverage

Last verified: August 5, 2026

Verified against the Uniform Civil Rules (22 NYCRR Part 202), the Nassau County Supreme Court Preliminary Conference Announcement and Instructions effective January 2, 2025, the court's published phone directory, and the published individual part rules of the Nassau justices, and confirmed by ongoing in-person appearances at Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola. See revision notes at the bottom of this page.

The notice says preliminary conference, Preliminary Conference Part, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola. Your calendar is stacked that morning, the file is new, and no one has checked whether the good faith certificate went up on NYSCEF. It is tempting to treat the PC as a box to check. It is not. Whatever discovery schedule the court sets that day, deadlines for bills of particulars, depositions, physicals, and the note of issue, governs the case for the next year or more, and moving those dates later is far harder than getting them right the first time.

It is a high-leverage appearance disguised as a routine one. This guide covers how the Nassau County preliminary conference actually works, so the firm that shows up prepared is the one that controls the schedule.

Key Takeaways

  • A preliminary conference is required in Nassau County Supreme Court. It runs in a central Preliminary Conference Part at 100 Supreme Court Drive in Mineola, not before the IAS justice assigned to the case, and it is conducted in person.
  • The clerk of the Preliminary Conference Part schedules the conference after a Request for Judicial Intervention and a Request for a Preliminary Conference are filed, or the court schedules one on its own initiative under 22 NYCRR 202.12(j). That conference is where the court takes control of the discovery timeline.
  • Every attorney appearing must upload a signed Attorney Good Faith Certificate to NYSCEF at least one day before the conference, filed under document type "Affirmation" with the comment "ADR Certification," as the court's Preliminary Conference Announcement and Instructions require.
  • At the conference the justice sets deadlines for bills of particulars, document exchange, party depositions, physical examinations, and the note of issue, all memorialized in a preliminary conference order that governs the case for a year or more.
  • Appearance is expected, and counsel should arrive with the file, a proposed discovery schedule, and authority to agree to the dates the court sets.
  • Missing the conference carries real consequences under 22 NYCRR 202.27: dismissal for a plaintiff who fails to appear, and default or inquest for a defendant.
  • When a scheduling conflict arises, per diem coverage lets an experienced attorney appear in your place, agree to a schedule you have approved, and send a written report the same day.

What Is the Nassau County Preliminary Conference?

The preliminary conference, or PC, is the first court-supervised conference in a civil case in Nassau County Supreme Court (Mineola, New York). It is governed by the statewide Uniform Civil Rules, specifically 22 NYCRR 202.12 and the differentiated case management rule at 22 NYCRR 202.19, and it is where the court takes control of the discovery timeline.

At the PC, the court sets the schedule for the case: deadlines for bills of particulars, document exchange, party depositions (EBTs), any physical examinations, and the date by which the note of issue must be filed. Those deadlines are memorialized in a preliminary conference order. It is not a substantive hearing on the merits, but it is far from a formality, because the schedule set that day shapes the entire course of the litigation.

Where Does the Preliminary Conference Fit in the Litigation Timeline?

The preliminary conference is the first appearance the court schedules after a party files a Request for Judicial Intervention. Here is where it sits:

Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI)

Places the case before an assigned IAS justice and, with a Request for a Preliminary Conference, triggers the PC

Preliminary Conference (PC)

Establishes the discovery schedule and the note of issue deadline for the case

Compliance / Certification Conference

Monitors whether discovery is proceeding on the schedule the PC set

Note of Issue & Trial

Filing the note of issue certifies discovery complete and places the case on the trial calendar

Because the PC comes first, it is the appearance that sets every downstream deadline. The dates fixed in the preliminary conference order drive the compliance conferences and the note of issue filing that follows. Getting those dates wrong, or letting the other side set them unopposed, can put your client on a schedule that does not fit the case.

How the Nassau Preliminary Conference Works

Understanding the mechanics of the Nassau PC is the difference between a smooth appearance and a schedule you spend the next year fighting.

It Runs in a Central Part, Not Before the Assigned Justice

Nassau County operates a central Preliminary Conference Part at Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola. The PC is not held before the IAS justice assigned to the case. The individual part rules of the Nassau justices say so directly: preliminary conferences are held under 22 NYCRR 202.19 in the Preliminary Conference Part of the courthouse, the clerk of that part schedules them, and adjournment requests go to the DCM clerk's office or the Preliminary Conference Part rather than to chambers. The court's published phone directory lists the Preliminary Conference Department at 516-493-3101.

That division matters for a covering attorney. The judge who signs the order in the Preliminary Conference Part is not the judge who will hear the case, so the order is a scheduling instrument rather than a ruling from the assigned justice. Read the assigned justice's part rules anyway, because the deadlines fixed at the PC will be enforced in that part.

When the Conference Is Scheduled

The clerk of the Preliminary Conference Part sets the date after a party files a Request for Judicial Intervention together with a Request for a Preliminary Conference. The court may also schedule a conference on its own initiative under 22 NYCRR 202.12(j). Notice of the date goes to all parties.

Appearances Are In Person

Nassau County preliminary conferences are conducted in person, and our covering attorneys appear at 100 Supreme Court Drive rather than by video. The court has not published a rule fixing that format, so confirm the appearance format with the Preliminary Conference Department at 516-493-3101 if your notice says anything different.

The ADR Certification Has to Be on NYSCEF First

Every attorney appearing at a Nassau preliminary conference must upload a signed Attorney Good Faith Certificate to NYSCEF at least one day before the conference. It is filed under document type "Affirmation" with the comment "ADR Certification." The requirement comes from the court's Preliminary Conference Announcement and Instructions, effective January 2, 2025, which state that all counsel must upload the signed certificate at least one day before the scheduled conference date. It is the Nassau mechanism for documenting the pre-conference consultation about alternative dispute resolution that 22 NYCRR 202.11 requires of counsel statewide. This is the step out-of-county firms miss most often, and it has to be handled before the appearance, not at the counsel table.

Non-Appearance Has Consequences (22 NYCRR 202.27)

Plaintiff fails to appear: The court may dismiss the action.

Defendant fails to appear: The court may grant judgment by default or order an inquest.

If no one appears, the court may make whatever order it deems appropriate, including marking the case off. In every case the resulting motion practice to undo it costs far more than the appearance would have. Arrange coverage before the date, not the morning of.

The Preliminary Conference Order

Most PCs resolve into a preliminary conference order, frequently a stipulation the parties negotiate and the court so-orders:

  1. Come with a proposed discovery schedule and the dates your client needs.
  2. Meet and confer with opposing counsel on the schedule, ideally before the conference.
  3. Complete the preliminary conference stipulation and order, setting deadlines for bills of particulars, document exchange, depositions, physicals, and the note of issue.
  4. Submit it to the court to be so-ordered, which fixes the schedule for the case.

Whoever appears is negotiating those dates on your client's behalf in real time. Sending someone without authority or without knowledge of the file is how firms end up bound to a schedule they never would have agreed to.

What to Bring and Know Before You Appear

Walking into a preliminary conference without preparation is a fast path to court-imposed deadlines you did not choose. Come ready with the following:

Preliminary Conference Checklist

  • A proposed discovery schedule -- Dates for bills of particulars, document demands, depositions, physicals, and the note of issue. The court expects you to have them.
  • The pleadings and any outstanding demands -- Know what has been served and what is still owed.
  • Proof that the ADR certification is on NYSCEF -- The signed Attorney Good Faith Certificate goes up at least one day before the conference under the court's preliminary conference instructions.
  • The Preliminary Conference Part call time, plus the assigned justice's part rules -- The conference itself runs in the central part; the deadlines it sets are enforced in the assigned justice's part.
  • Preliminary conference stipulation and order form -- The vehicle for memorializing the schedule on consent.
  • Authorization / records status (in injury cases) -- The schedule for exchanging medical authorizations often gets set at the PC.
  • Substantive knowledge of the file and authority to agree -- Whoever appears is negotiating deadlines. They need to know the case and be able to commit to dates.

The Five Most Common Preliminary Conference Mistakes

After 28 years of covering conferences across New York, including Nassau County, the same mistakes come up again and again. Here are the five most costly:

Treating the PC as a Formality

The preliminary conference is not a status check. It is where the discovery schedule for the entire case is set. Every downstream deadline, and the note of issue date, flows from what is agreed or ordered that morning. Firms that walk in treating it as a box to check end up bound to a schedule that someone else drove.

Showing Up Without a Proposed Schedule

The court expects each side to arrive with proposed dates for bills of particulars, document exchange, depositions, physicals, and the note of issue. Counsel who has not thought through the schedule concedes it to the party who has. Do the work before the conference, not at the counsel table.

Not Knowing the Non-Appearance Consequences

Under 22 NYCRR 202.27, a plaintiff who fails to appear risks dismissal, and a defendant who fails to appear risks a default or inquest. Those outcomes require motion practice to undo. Knowing which side of that line you are on, and arranging coverage accordingly, is the single most important thing you can do before the date.

Sending Someone Without the File or Authority

The PC is a negotiation. The court and opposing counsel will press on dates and on the posture of the case. Whoever appears, in-house or per diem, needs to know the file and have authority to commit to a schedule. A warm body at the table who cannot agree to dates is worse than useless.

Skipping the ADR Certification

The signed Attorney Good Faith Certificate required by the court's Preliminary Conference Announcement and Instructions must be uploaded to NYSCEF at least one day before the conference, as an Affirmation with the comment "ADR Certification." Counsel who arrives without it has a problem the court cannot solve at the counsel table, and the assigned justice's own part rules still govern everything that happens after the schedule is set. Check both before the date.

When and How to Use a Per Diem Attorney for PC Coverage

Used correctly, a per diem attorney is one of the most efficient tools a civil litigation firm has. Used carelessly, it creates more exposure than it solves.

When Per Diem Coverage Makes Sense

  • Scheduling conflicts -- your team has appearances in two counties on the same morning
  • Understaffed litigation departments handling a steady volume of Nassau County matters
  • Out-of-area firms with a single Nassau case who lack a Long Island presence
  • Cost-efficiency -- a flat-fee conference appearance at a fraction of associate billing rates

What to Brief Your Per Diem Attorney On

A well-briefed per diem attorney can handle a preliminary conference seamlessly. Give them:

  • The index number and the assigned justice or part
  • Your proposed discovery schedule and the note of issue date you want
  • The current posture of the pleadings and any outstanding demands
  • Opposing counsel's name and contact information
  • Confirmation that the ADR certification is already on NYSCEF, plus the assigned justice's part rules and any case-specific instructions or authority to agree to dates

What to Expect After the Appearance

A reliable per diem attorney provides a written summary immediately after the appearance: the schedule the court set, any deadlines imposed, and the status of the case going forward. At the Law Office of Frederic R. Abramson, every preliminary conference appearance includes a same-day email report so you are never in the dark about what happened in court.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a preliminary conference in Nassau County?

The preliminary conference (PC) is the first court-supervised conference in a civil case in Nassau County Supreme Court. Governed by the Uniform Civil Rules (22 NYCRR 202.12 and 202.19), it is held in the court's central Preliminary Conference Part, and it is where the court sets the discovery schedule for the case, including deadlines for bills of particulars, document exchange, depositions, physical examinations, and the note of issue.

Where is the Nassau County preliminary conference held?

Preliminary conferences are held at Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York 11501. Nassau runs a central Preliminary Conference Part rather than sending the conference to the IAS justice assigned to the case. The clerk of that part schedules the conference, and adjournment requests go to the DCM clerk's office or the Preliminary Conference Department rather than to chambers. Preliminary conferences are conducted in person.

When must a preliminary conference be held in Nassau County?

The clerk of the Preliminary Conference Part schedules the conference after a party files a Request for Judicial Intervention together with a Request for a Preliminary Conference. The court may also schedule one on its own initiative under 22 NYCRR 202.12(j). Notice of the date goes to all parties.

What happens if you miss a Nassau County preliminary conference?

Under 22 NYCRR 202.27, if the plaintiff fails to appear at a scheduled conference, the court may dismiss the action. If the defendant fails to appear, the court may grant judgment by default or order an inquest. If no party appears, the court may make any order it deems appropriate, which can include marking the case off the calendar. Restoring a case after any of these outcomes requires motion practice.

What comes out of a Nassau preliminary conference?

The conference produces a preliminary conference order (often a stipulation and order signed by counsel and so-ordered by the court) that fixes the discovery schedule: dates for bills of particulars, document demands and responses, party depositions, any physical examinations, and the deadline to file the note of issue. Those dates govern the case going forward and are difficult to change without a further application.

How do I hire a per diem attorney for a Nassau preliminary conference?

You can order a per diem attorney for Nassau County preliminary conference coverage at abramsonlegal.com. Provide the index number, the assigned justice or part, the conference date, the current discovery posture, your proposed schedule, and opposing counsel's contact information. A same-day email report is included with every appearance.

Who provides per diem coverage for Nassau County preliminary conferences?

The Law Office of Frederic R. Abramson, 160 Broadway, Suite 500, New York, NY 10038, provides per diem coverage for preliminary conferences at Nassau County Supreme Court in Mineola. Nassau PCs are held in the court's central Preliminary Conference Part and are conducted in person. A written report follows every appearance by end of business. Call 212-233-0666 or text 917-686-3827 to book an appearance.

What does a per diem attorney need for a Nassau County preliminary conference?

The covering attorney needs the index number, the nature of the case, your proposed discovery schedule, and authority to agree to deadlines in the preliminary conference order. Confirm that the signed Attorney Good Faith Certificate required by the court's preliminary conference instructions has been uploaded to NYSCEF at least one day before the conference, and provide case status details at booking.

The Bottom Line

The Nassau County preliminary conference looks routine and is anything but. It runs in a central Preliminary Conference Part rather than before the assigned IAS justice, it is scheduled by the clerk of that part once the RJI and the Request for a Preliminary Conference are filed, it is conducted in person, and it is where the discovery schedule for the entire case gets set. Non-appearance carries real consequences under 22 NYCRR 202.27: dismissal for a plaintiff, default or inquest for a defendant.

Understanding the rules before you appear, or before you assign coverage, is the difference between a schedule you helped shape and one you spend the next year litigating around. Whether you are handling it yourself or delegating to a per diem, preparation is everything. Know the file. Bring a proposed schedule. Get the ADR certification on NYSCEF the day before. Send someone with authority to agree to dates.

And if you need reliable, experienced coverage for your next Nassau County preliminary conference, we have handled these appearances for 28 years.

Book PC Coverage

Phone: 212-233-0666  |  Text/Emergency: 917-686-3827  |  Email: fabramson@abramsonlegal.com

When your case is on the line, send someone who knows the courtroom.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The Law Office of Frederic R. Abramson, 160 Broadway, Suite 500, New York, NY 10038. 212-233-0666.

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About the Author

Frederic R. Abramson, Law Office of Frederic R. Abramson

Frederic R. Abramson has practiced law in New York for 28 years, admitted to the New York State Bar in November 1997. He provides per diem court coverage, pro hac vice local counsel, and deposition services throughout the five boroughs, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Orange counties, and the firm covers preliminary conferences in the Nassau County Preliminary Conference Part.

This guide reflects procedure confirmed through ongoing in-person appearances in the Nassau County preliminary conference part, not secondhand summaries. It is reviewed quarterly against nycourts.gov and updated whenever covering attorneys report changes from the field.

Admitted: New York State Bar (1997), U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Law Office of Frederic R. Abramson, 160 Broadway, Suite 500, New York, NY 10038. Phone 212-233-0666.

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before your case gets there.

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Revision Notes

This guide is reviewed quarterly against the Uniform Civil Rules and nycourts.gov, and updated whenever our covering attorneys report procedural or personnel changes from in-person appearances.

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