Choosing between .COM and .LAWYER depends on your branding goals, target audience, and long-term growth strategy. Below is a clear, decision-ready comparison tailored for legal professionals and legal tech brands.
1. Brand Power & Trust
.COM
Pros
- Universally trusted and instantly recognizable
- Works across borders, languages, and practice areas
- Preferred by investors, partners, and enterprise clients
Cons
- High-quality names are often taken or expensive
- Less explicit about being a legal service
Best for: Established firms, international practices, legal tech platforms, marketplaces
.LAWYER
Pros
- Instantly signals legal specialization
- Strong professional identity for solo lawyers or niche practices
- Great clarity for first-time visitors
Cons
- Less familiar to non-legal audiences
- May feel restrictive if you expand beyond pure legal services
- Typically lower resale liquidity than .COM
Best for: Solo attorneys, boutique firms, local practices, personal brands
2. SEO & Click-Through Behavior
.COM
- Neutral but powerful for SEO
- Benefits from user trust → higher click-through rates
- Easier to rank globally with content + backlinks
.LAWYER
- Keyword relevance helps perceived topical alignment
- No inherent Google ranking advantage over .COM
- Strong in niche/local search where intent is explicit
Reality check: Google treats both equally; content + authority matter more than extension.
3. Marketing & Memorability
.COM
- Easier to remember and type
- Lower risk of traffic leakage
- Safer for offline marketing (radio, print, word of mouth)
.LAWYER
- Highly descriptive and differentiating
- Excellent for ads and niche campaigns
- Slightly higher risk users default to “.com” by habit
4. Flexibility & Future Growth
.COM
- Scales effortlessly into:
- Legal software
- Education
- Consulting
- Media / content brands
.LAWYER
- Best when your identity stays strictly legal
- Can feel limiting if you diversify into tech, courses, or platforms
5. Cost, Availability & Investment Value
| Factor | .COM | .LAWYER |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Scarce (premium names costly) | Widely available |
| Registration Cost | Low–High (aftermarket) | Higher than .COM |
| Resale Liquidity | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Long-term Asset Value | Very high | Niche |
6. Side-by-Side Recommendation
Choose .COM if you want:
- Maximum credibility & resale value
- Broad or international reach
- Long-term brand flexibility
Choose .LAWYER if you want:
- Clear legal positioning from day one
- A strong personal or boutique identity
- A memorable niche brand for clients seeking lawyers
Smart Hybrid Strategy (Best of Both Worlds)
Many successful firms do this:
- Primary site:
BrandName.com - Landing / protection:
BrandName.lawyer(redirects to .com)
This protects your brand and captures niche intent.
Final Verdict
- .COM = Authority, scale, investment-grade
- .LAWYER = Precision, clarity, niche branding