Someone smart, allowed to rise, embraced by crooked client (9)
I believe the answer is:
intellect
'someone smart' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.
'allowed to rise embraced by crooked client' is the wordplay.
'allowed to' becomes 'let' (to let something happen is to allow it).
'rise' is a reversal indicator.
'embraced by' is an insertion indicator.
'crooked' is an anagram indicator.
'let' in reverse letter order is 'tel'.
'client' is an anagram of 'inlect'.
'tel' put within 'inlect' is 'INTELLECT'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for intellect that I've seen before include "Mental powers; clever person" , "Reason" , "Faculty of reasoning" , "Mental power" , "Brain" .)