Today, all law firms will be able to apply for .law names. This top-level domain name is intended to create an online space in which only regulated, licensed legal practitioners can be found.

In order to purchase your .law domain name, there are specific steps involved, as well as some key dates of which to be aware. Here is a quick guide to help you move forward with purchasing your .law domain.

What domain names should you buy?

1. Purchase the .law version of your domain name.
2. Purchase keyword specific URLs that are important to your branding efforts, such as employmentlawyer.law, employment.law, advertisinglaw.law, etc. Note that there could be bidding for some of the more popular domains.

When and where can I register the domain?

Oct. 12 – 18, 2015:

1. Qualified lawyers can apply for domain names. Domain names will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
2. There will be a one-time Early Access Program (EAP) fee as well as an annual registration fee.
3. Pricing will decrease each day for the first seven days of General Availability – check with an authorized registrar for purchasing details.

October 19 – Future:

• Qualified lawyers can still purchase domain names on a first-come, first-served basis, minus the EAP fee.

What is the eligibility process?

1. Decide which of your firm’s lawyers will be designated a “qualified lawyer” for purposes of purchasing .law domain names – such as your managing partner or marketing partner.
2. Gather the following information for your qualified lawyer:
3. Attorney’s name (as it appears on his/her bar registration)
4. State/jurisdiction(s) where attorney is licensed to practice
5. Year of registration: Year(s) admitted to practice
6. Bar registration number(s)
7. Bar association state and country
8. How long does it take?

The verification process should take 48 hours, after which time the domain names you applied for will be registered to you.