Erudite elder in muddle with law (4-4)

I believe the answer is:

well-read

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'erudite' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for well-read that I've seen before include "Highly literate" , "Literate, having absorbed many books" , "A dweller may be knowledgeable about literature" , "Having learnt a lot from books" , "Literarily knowledgeable" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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