Extension
.legal
.legal in short
The .legal domain is an open generic top-level domain (gTLD) aimed at the legal sector — law firms, attorneys, legal-tech products and legal-information sites. Unlike .law, it has no verification requirement, so anyone can register one.
.legal at a glance
Type
gTLD — Generic top-level domain
Registry
Identity Digital
Launched
2014
Country / scope
Generic — no country
Restrictions
Open to anyone
Typical price
$35/yr
Example sites
legal sites
Source: IANA root zone database & registry data · methodology
Where to register a .legal domain
Prices are indicative and set by each registrar; renewal rates may differ from first-year promotions. Links may be sponsored. tldlist.us is an independent reference and not a registrar.
What does .legal mean?
The .legal extension is a descriptive generic top-level domain for anything in or around the law. It reads as plain English: a .legal address signals legal services, legal information or legal technology at a glance. Operated within the Identity Digital portfolio and live since 2014, it is the open counterpart to the verified .law domain.
The key thing to understand about .legal is that it is unrestricted. Where .law forces you to prove a practising credential, .legal lets anyone register — a law firm, yes, but also a legal-document startup, a paralegal service, a know-your-rights resource or a legal-news blog. That openness makes it flexible and cheaper, at the cost of the automatic “verified practitioner” signal that .law carries.
Who uses .legal?
.legal suits a broad legal ecosystem: traditional firms wanting a descriptive brand, legal-tech and SaaS companies (contract tools, e-signing, compliance), comparison and directory sites, and educational or self-help legal resources. A name like contracts.legal or tenant.legal tells visitors exactly what they are getting.
Because it is open, a licensed firm that wants the credibility of verification may still prefer .law, while a brand that simply wants the broad recall of the default may choose .com. .legal sits comfortably between them as an affordable, on-topic option for the whole sector.
.legal registration rules and requirements
.legal is a fully open gTLD: there is no bar membership, licence check or documentation required. Anyone in any country can register an available .legal name on a first-come, first-served basis under standard ICANN contact rules. Because there is no gatekeeping, the extension is cheaper and faster to obtain than .law — but it also means the name alone does not certify the holder as a qualified lawyer.
How much does .legal cost?
A .legal domain typically runs about $35 per year at mainstream registrars, though rates vary by registrar and any introductory promotion. Always confirm the renewal price — not just the first-year offer — before you register.
| Registrar | Typical .legal price (per year) |
|---|---|
| Identity Digital accredited registrars | ~$35–55/yr |
| Namecheap | ~$35/yr |
| Porkbun | ~$40/yr |
.legal pros and cons
Pros
- Open to anyone — no verification or credential needed.
- Descriptive and self-explanatory for any legal-sector brand.
- Cheaper than the verified .law extension.
- Flexible enough for firms, legal-tech and information sites alike.
Cons
- No verification, so the name alone does not prove a real lawyer.
- Pricier than mainstream generics like .com or .net.
- Can be confused with the verified .law extension.
- Lower public familiarity than legacy TLDs.
Example .legal websites
- Legal-tech startups use product.legal to brand contract, e-signing and compliance tools.
- Self-help and directory sites adopt topical names such as tenant.legal or family.legal.
- Firms that want a descriptive brand without verification register firmname.legal.
.legal — frequently asked questions
What is the .legal domain?
The .legal domain is an open generic top-level domain for the legal sector — firms, attorneys, legal-tech products and legal-information sites. Unlike .law it requires no verification, so anyone can register a .legal name on a first-come, first-served basis.
What is the difference between .legal and .law?
.legal is open to anyone and cheaper, while .law is restricted and verified — only licensed legal professionals can hold a .law name. .law therefore carries a credential the public can trust on sight, whereas .legal is a flexible, descriptive extension for the whole sector.
Who can register a .legal domain?
Anyone, anywhere. There are no eligibility rules, licence checks or documentation for .legal — registration is open on a first-come, first-served basis under standard ICANN contact requirements.
How much does a .legal domain cost?
A .legal domain typically costs around $35 per year, with most registrars in the $35–$55 range. It is more expensive than mainstream generics but cheaper than the verified .law extension. Check the renewal price before buying.