Lawyers open with argument that carries weight (6)
I believe the answer is:
barrow
'carries weight' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'lawyers open with argument' is the wordplay.
'lawyers open' becomes 'bar' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'argument' becomes 'row' (to row is to argue).
'bar'+'row'='BARROW'
'that' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for barrow that I've seen before include "Handcart; burial mound" , "Load-carrying cart - burial mound" , "Cart; grave mound" , "old burial ground" , "Small cart for a prehistoric burial mound" .)