Find novel by lawyer entertaining to begin with - it describes alternative spiritual practices (6)

I believe the answer is:

newage

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'lawyer entertaining to begin with it describes alternative spiritual practices' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'find novel by' is the wordplay.
'find' becomes 'age' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'novel' becomes 'new' (novel means new or fresh).
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'age' put after 'new' is 'NEWAGE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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