Legal adviser, very proper, otherwise (9)
I believe the answer is:
solicitor
'legal adviser' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'very proper otherwise' is the wordplay.
'very' becomes 'so' (I've seen this in other clues).
'proper' becomes 'licit'.
'otherwise' becomes 'or'.
'so'+'licit'+'or'='SOLICITOR'
(Other definitions for solicitor that I've seen before include "Lawyer preparing cases for barristers" , "Court player" , "Legal officer" , "Type of lawyer" , "legal expert" .)