Like the servitude of a penman? (5)

I believe the answer is:

penal

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'like' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

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(Other definitions for penal that I've seen before include "Punitive" , "Corrective" , "Deliberately unpleasant" , "Punishing" , "Involving punishment as by the law" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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