I'd advise you to assess trouble in joint (8)
I believe the answer is:
dovetail
'joint' is the definition.
(I know that dovetail is a type of mortise and tenon)
'i'd advise you to assess trouble' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'trouble' could be 'ail' (synonyms) and 'ail' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dovetail that I've seen before include "Come together" , "Interlocking joint" , "Type of joint - fit closely together" , "Fit snugly" , "Fit closely together like white bird and appendage" .)