Communication Skills STAR Example

Situation: I was a trainee on secondment to a mid-sized commercial client that was facing an imminent breach of contract claim from a supplier. The claim could trigger a material penalty clause and would have damaged the client relationship. The in-house legal team were small and stressed; senior finance and procurement managers had differing views about how to respond, and there was little time before the supplier's deadline for a formal reply.

Task: My task was to draft a response that reduced the immediate legal risk, preserved commercial relationships, and secured time to negotiate. I also needed to align internal stakeholders so the response had company-wide support and authority.

Action: I took three practical steps.

1. I organised a 30-minute focused call with the in-house legal lead, the head of procurement and the finance director to agree facts and priorities. I circulated an agenda and a one-page factual summary beforehand to keep the call efficient.

2. I drafted a two-part response letter: a short, fact-based opening that acknowledged the supplier's position and asked for clarification on key points; and a second part proposing an immediate, limited-step solution (suspension of penalty enforcement pending verification) to buy time for negotiation. I used plain language and avoided legalistic complexity so commercial colleagues could endorse the approach.

3. I prepared a 1-page briefing for senior management that explained the legal risks, commercial consequences and recommended actions in bullet points, and circulated it with a clear deadline for approval.

Result: The supplier accepted the proposed suspension and agreed to a six-week verification period rather than enforcing the penalty clause immediately. Internally, the clear facts and plain-language options secured unanimous sign-off within 24 hours. The extra time allowed us to resolve the factual dispute, avoid litigation, and renegotiate more favourable delivery terms. The company estimated avoided costs at approximately 45,000 pounds and the client relationship remained intact. The in-house team subsequently adopted the one-page briefing format I introduced for other urgent disputes.

Why this works:

• Clear problem framing: The opening 'Situation' sets the scene succinctly - parties involved, time pressure, competing internal views. That demonstrates awareness of context and the communication challenge.

• Specific, measurable task: The 'Task' defines concrete aims (reduce risk, preserve relationships, align stakeholders). Listing multiple objectives shows the candidate handled both legal and commercial demands.

• Structured, targeted actions: The 'Action' breaks down steps with specific techniques: setting an agenda, using a one-page factual summary, drafting plain-language correspondence, and creating a concise briefing. These are all recognisable communication tactics relevant to a solicitor role.

• Use of plain language and stakeholder alignment: The example emphasises adapting tone and format (plain language; one-page briefings) to the audience - a key communication skill. This shows emotional intelligence and audience awareness.

• Quantified and concrete result: Stating the six-week verification period, avoided costs of approximately 45,000 pounds, and adoption of the briefing format demonstrates impact and transferability.

Annotations (how to spot the valuable phrases):

• 'Organised a 30-minute focused call' - Shows time-management and efficiency.

• 'Circulated an agenda and a one-page factual summary beforehand' - Demonstrates preparation and anticipatory communication.

• 'Plain language and avoided legalistic complexity' - Highlights ability to tailor technical information for non-lawyers.

• 'Secured unanimous sign-off within 24 hours' - Indicates persuasive clarity and effective stakeholder management.

These elements combine to show not only that the candidate can write and speak clearly, but that their communication led to measurable business outcomes.

How to adapt this example for your applications or interviews:

1. Use your own context: Substitute details from a university pro bono matter, mooting experience, vacation scheme task or client-facing internship. Keep the structure: brief situation, clear task, concrete actions, measurable result.

2. Quantify outcomes where possible: Even approximate figures or timescales (weeks, days, percentage reduction) strengthen credibility. If you cannot give numbers, use clear qualitative outcomes (avoided litigation, improved team buy-in).

3. Emphasise audience adaptation: Explain how you changed tone, format or medium for different stakeholders (partners, clients, colleagues). That shows pragmatic communication.

4. Keep it concise: For interviews, practise delivering the STAR in 60-90 seconds. For written applications, aim for one tight paragraph per STAR element.

5. Resources and further reading: Consult practical guides and example banks to refine wording. Useful platforms include YourLegalLadder, Legal Cheek, Chambers Student and LawCareers.Net for market context and example answers. For technical drafting tips, refer to plain-English resources like the Plain English Campaign and professional guides from LexisNexis or Westlaw.

When adapting, focus on demonstrable impact and clear, audience-tailored actions rather than legal jargon.