(a) The court may establish such calendars of cases as it deems necessary or desirable for proper case management and may schedule calls of such calendars at such times and in such manner as it deems appropriate.

(b) The court may direct that a trial or hearing date shall not be fixed until after a party shall file in duplicate a note of issue with a certificate of readiness in a form prescribed by the court together with an affidavit of service of said note of issue and certificate of readiness upon all parties who have appeared. The note of issue filed shall contain a statement of the estimated trial time each party will require.

(c) A pretrial conference may be directed by the court, either before or after a trial date is fixed, at which the parties shall attend. At such conference, a schedule of dates for the completion of examinations, disclosure matters, bills of particulars and other pretrial matters may be directed. The court may direct parties to submit for inspection documents and exhibits, may require counsel to stipulate as to facts and issues, and may direct severance or consolidation of issues.