Crossword Genius

Request is as legal as this (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

solicit

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

'request' is the definition.
(I know that solicit is a more specific form of the action request)

'as legal as this' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'as' could be 'so' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'so' is present in the answer.
'legal' could be 'licit' (similar in meaning) and 'licit' is present in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'is' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for solicit that I've seen before include "Make request (for business etc)" , "Request, induce" , "Ask (favour)" , "Ask earnestly about colitis" , "Beg - hustle" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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