Not even Lord Denning, the most distinguished centenarian, had been born when our civil procedure had its last fundamental overhaul in 1875.

History will judge how, as Master of the Rolls, Lord Denning's huge influence on the process of law in society compares with the culture change of his successor Lord Woolf's new procedural rules, designed to give universal access to justice in the resolution of civil disputes.History apart, during the 89 days until 26 April the 44% of solicitors who practise civil work will need rapidly to absorb the culture change.

If they do not, they will be in for an unpleasant culture shock.No civil litigator can afford to be relaxed about the changed landscape that will unfold when in 12 weeks the case managers (judges) start to referee the new level playing field.

Clients will expect solicitors to know what they are doing from day one, and the judiciary may not be sympathetic to those who have not done their homework.

'Solicitors will be expected to have made themselves thoroughly familiar with the new rules of civil procedure, practice directions and protocols by 26 April.

How they do this is a matter for them', to quote one of the 30 new 'designated judges' in charge of the civil trial centres outside London.

No surprise then, that the legal education and publishing industry is in overdrive to cope with the anticipated demand for training and information.

The full text of the civil procedure rules is available on the Lord Chancellor's Department Web site (www.open.gov.uk/lcd).

And although, at £250 a throw, the annual subscription to the Stationery Office hard copy of the new 'Brown Book' - replacing the White and Green books - containing the rules, practice directions, protocols and forms may seem high, it does include a monthly update.

Most solicitors will also want to have at their elbow one of the text books likely to emerge explaining in more detail how the new procedure will work - what the 'overriding objective' really means; what terminology has replaced the old-fashioned writ and affidavit, and what is meant by the vital new concept of proportionality and the revolutionary part 36 'offer to settle'.

All of these crucial areas will be comprehensively covered in round two of the Law Society's seven 'Getting fit for Woolf' country-wide roadshows during March and April.The worries of some about the speed of implementation of the regime and the limited consultation on some of the rules and practice directions is partly softened by knowing that the April 'switch on date' will be the first phase of a rolling programme.

The true impact of the system will not come into its own until the accompanying information technology is available in 2000/01.

Sooner tha n we think, video-linked IT systems may eclipse the need for routine attendance at court.For now though it is enough that 1999 will be a daunting year as firms face the serial massive changes of legal aid franchising, exclusive contracts and conditional fees.

The additional burden of adapting to the Woolf reforms nevertheless presents an opportunity for 'litigators' to show that their public image can be a positive one in a climate where the new level playing field is designed to promote prompt and fair resolution of disputes.

But in its new case-managing role, the judiciary will also need to remember that despite swifter settlement encouraged by protocols and alternative dispute resolution - meaning that fewer cases are likely to get to trial - some disputes will not be capable of being resolved in any other way.

Just disposal at trial will still depend on the court hearing the necessary evidence particularly from experts and considering all the relevant documents.

Litigation in the future may be viewed as a last resort but the balance between speed, cost, efficiency and proportionality, on the one hand, and the court delivering the just result, on the other, is a delicate one.

Lord Woolf has toiled long and hard to produce his radical solution.

If he has got it right, another century at least should elapse before our successors have to sit down and learn another set of rules.