Three things in particular tend to surprise new visitors to the three-year-old Supreme Court. The first is that there are no secret tunnels to Parliament, which comes as a great disappointment to many school groups. The second is that the Justices sit on the same level as the rest of the court, rather than on a raised platform. And the third is that the best rooms in the house are reserved for the lawyers' meeting spaces.

The latter two point to a very conscious effort by the Law Lords to ensure that the building reflected the new institution's overall approach, enshrined in the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, of being "accessible, fair and efficient".

This attempt to be as open as possible is a corporate attitude that is not only manifest in the design of the building – lots of glass, and attempts to bring in plenty of daylight – but also in many of the operational decisions the court has taken in its short life. This week we announced that during the Olympics this summer, deadlines for lodging papers would automatically be extended until 13 August, to avoid the need for legal professionals to trek across central London to deliver papers unless there is a very pressing need. (The court building will remain open, and registry staff available for urgent matters.)

supremecourtWe have tried to adopt that flexibility wherever possible, keenly aware that for those appearing before the Supreme Court, it can be a daunting experience – indeed, it has been described as "the best laxative known to man". While we make no claims for its constipative effects, we have established a Court User Group made up of professionals who use the court's services regularly, to advise the administration on ways of improving the experience for lawyers.

But it is our work in seeking to reach out beyond the usual legal audience where I hope we have been able to make the most impact since the Law Lords' move across Parliament Square.

Prime among these developments has been the court's exemption from the prohibition on filming in courts. Unsurprisingly there has recently been a surge of interest from both academics and journalists about the how the cameras in our courtrooms work and what effect they have on both counsel and the Justices. For what it's worth, the silent cameras have become part of the furniture to such an extent that the Justices forget they are there, and fears of counsel 'grandstanding' for the audience appear unfounded. As the only court in the UK currently making footage available on a regular basis to broadcasters, our experience is keenly watched – even if not by many TV viewers as, largely due to the technical style of advocacy employed in Supreme Court hearings, little of our proceedings make it onto the television news.

To help compensate for this, last spring we partnered with Sky News to set up a dedicated web stream of Supreme Court proceedings. This allows law students and professionals, or anybody with an interest in the appeal in question, to watch a live feed from the court in the comfort of their own home or office. I must admit to being surprised that more than 25,000 people log on each month to watch proceedings.

One of the most popular innovations to accompany the new Supreme Court is the publication of press summaries for each of the Court's judgments. These two-sided summaries seek to explain the background to the appeal, the Court's decision, and the rationale for that decision. While some commentators publicly wonder whether we could not do more to reduce the complexity and qualified nature of these precis, feedback has generally been very positive.

The most recent addition to our arsenal of aids to accessibility is our corporate use of Twitter. We tweet links to the court's judgments as soon as they are delivered, as well as updates on high profile applications for permission to appeal, and other news. Of course, this creates challenges as well as opportunities: we have to read through a range of 'off topic' messages (to put it politely) and need to tread a fine line between using an informal style appropriate for the medium, while not endangering the dignity of the court. From a standing start in February, @UKSupremeCourt now more than 9,000 followers.

This begins to sound like a bragging list of accomplishments, but we're very aware there is still much more that can be done. Awareness of the Supreme Court much beyond the legal world is still relatively low. These initiatives, and others, need to be reviewed and developed over time to help inform and inspire a wider audience about the court's role and work.

We also appreciate that, in many local courts, this sort of initiative would be virtually impossible. We are fortunate in having a small team dedicated to communications and visitor services, encompassing our education and outreach work as well as the front of house duties necessary for any high profile public building.

But if any court is in a position to blaze a trail in these areas, it is right that it is the UK's Supreme Court, and we hope that some of our work might also inspire others to explore what might be possible within their resources. I try and avoid cliched use of the importance of "justice being seen to be done" – but sometimes the call of that fundamental principle is inescapable, and I hope that what we are doing to support the Justices is useful to those within the profession, those seeking to be in the profession, and those beyond.

Ben Wilson (pictured top) is head of communications at the UK Supreme Court. Click here to follow the UK Supreme Court on Twitter.