Morally upright as the laic may be (7)
I believe the answer is:
ethical
'morally upright' is the definition.
'ethical' can be an answer for 'upright' (I've seen this in another clue). I am unsure of the 'morally' bit.
'the laic may be' is the wordplay.
'may be' indicates anagramming the letters.
'the'+'laic'='thelaic'
'thelaic' anagrammed gives 'ETHICAL'.
'as' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ethical that I've seen before include "not advertised to the general public" , "Morally correct, in accordance with principles" , "lt's available on prescription only" , "Principled (behaviour)" , "Morally proper" .)