As soon as practicable after the response to the charging letter is filed, the administrative law judge shall direct counsel or other representatives for the parties to meet with him or her at a preliminary conference, unless the administrative law judge determines that such a conference is not necessary. At the conference, the administrative law judge shall consider the issuance of such orders as the administrative law judge deems necessary for the conduct of the proceedings. Such orders may include, as appropriate under these regulations, the establishment of a discovery schedule or the issuance of an order, if requested, to provide for maintaining the confidentiality of the proceedings pursuant to §207.105(b) of this subpart.