Cross for stern lawyer, in short (5)
I believe the answer is:
ratty
'short' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'cross for stern lawyer' is the wordplay.
'cross' becomes 'atty' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'for' says to put letters next to each other (I've seen this in other clues).
'stern' says to take the final letters (I've seen 'stern of' mean this (stern can mean back)).
The last letter of 'lawyer' is 'r'.
'atty' after 'r' is 'RATTY'.
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ratty that I've seen before include "Irritable (informal)" , "One messing about in a boat" , "with pests" , "Waspish" , "with hump?" .)