After the filing of a notice of trial and certificate of readiness in any action, the judge shall order such pretrial and prearbitration conferences as required by the needs of the court. The attendance of attorneys who are familiar with the case and who are authorized to act shall be required. The court may also require the attendance of parties and, in the event of failure of attendance by attorneys or parties, the court shall have the same powers with respect to dismissals, defaults, or both as it might exercise when a case is reached for trial. Upon the pretrial of an action, the judge shall consider with counsel and parties the simplification and limitation of the issues and the obtaining of admissions of facts and of documents to avoid unnecessary proof, as well as the ultimate disposition of the action by settlement or compromise.