One who's paid to support Liberal apprentice (7)
I believe the answer is:
learner
'apprentice' is the definition.
(I know that apprentice can be written as learner)
'one who's paid to support liberal' is the wordplay.
'one who's paid' becomes 'earner' (someone who earns money).
'to support' says to put letters next to each other (in a down clue, some letters hold up others).
'liberal' becomes 'l' (abbreviation).
'earner' put after 'l' is 'LEARNER'.
(Other definitions for learner that I've seen before include "who needs plates" , "New driver" , "One being taught" , "One under tuition" , "Driver under instruction" .)