We are a friendly and welcoming network for anyone with a stammer working in or thinking about entering the legal industry. We welcome guests at any stage of their career, from qualified solicitors and barristers, to paralegals, trainees and law students.
What we do
Support Network
We hold regular meetings and social events throughout the year, and aim to provide an opportunity to share experiences, words of advice, or perhaps to practise and develop communication skills in an encouraging and supportive environment
Awareness
We hope to raise awareness of stammering within the legal industry, by sharing information about stammering and engaging with law firms and other stakeholders around conducting interviews, assessments and working with employees who stammer
Myth-busting
We want to encourage young people who may be dissuaded from pursuing a career in law, perhaps due to a belief that it requires outstanding fluency and public speaking skills (often fuelled by TV dramas such as Suits), to stick with it. Despite certain unique challenges, having a stammer should in no way hinder a successful and fulfilling career in law.
For examples and case studies, see our resources section
What is stammering?
Stammering is a relatively common neurological condition that can make it harder to speak. Stammering can take many forms and affect people in many different ways, though it is often characterised by repeating, prolonging or getting stuck on sounds or words. There might also be signs of visible tension as the person struggles to get the word out. Stammering can also involve doing something to try to get a word out or to hide a stammer, such as avoiding or swapping words.
The physical act of stammering is often only a tiny aspect of the experience, and it can be accompanied by intense feelings of embarrassment, shame, anxiety and fear. For many people who stammer, it is this aspect which forms the greater part of the experience, and there are many people out there who swap words, avoid contact or keep silent so that people do not know that they stammer.
Here are some other stammering facts:
About 8% of children will stammer at some point, but most will go on to talk fluently.
For up to 3% of adults it will be a lifelong condition.
There is no link between stammering and intellectual capacity. And it has nothing to do with flaws in someone's character.
Like other neurological conditions, it covers a spectrum. Everyone stammers differently and to different degrees.
For some there’ll be periods of their life when they stammer less and others when they will struggle to speak.
Many find that as they get older the condition improves.
In the UK we largely use the term stammering. Other countries use the term stuttering. But there's no difference between them, it's the same thing.
For more information, check out our resources section or get in touch!
Our Partners
The STAMMA Legal team would like to thank Marks & Clerk Law LLP for its continued support.