A new online channel to a lawyer-client matchmaking service is one of the first UK users of the new '.law' internet address for legal websites. 

Spoke, announced today by Lawyers on Demand, is described as a 'Legal Airbnb'.

It will act as a channel through which clients can match their needs wtih the skills and availability of lawyers registered with the on-demand service, set up by international firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) in 2007 and spun off as a separate venture in 2012.

BLP remains the main shareholder. 

Simon Harper, the co-founder of Lawyers on Demand said the 'platform' expects to sign up at least 500 solicitors and barristers when it opens for business in July. Registration for www.spoke.law opens today. Clients are expected to be predominantly in-house teams looking for expertise on an ad-hoc basis.  

'Lawyers set their own day rate and we agree a fee,' he said. Registration is free. 

Harper said the model was in tune with new working practices across the economy. 'Spoke signals another stage in the new law evolution,' he said. 'The big law firm was one way for lawyers to work that grew out of the 20th century. Spoke is about harnessing what the 21st century has to offer.'

The '.law' top-level domain name for web addresses has been available to the legal profession worldwide since October last year.