Crossword Genius

Issue edict while assistants get sliced vegetables (4,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pass law

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'assistants get sliced vegetables' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether this works.

'issue edict while' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'edict' could be 'law' (I've seen this before) and 'law' is located in the answer.
'while' could be 'as' (eg 'while I walked' means 'as I walked') and 'as' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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