Short work for counsel (5)
I believe the answer is:
brief
This could be a double definition.
'short work' is the first definition.
'brief' can be an answer for 'short' (I've seen this before). I am not sure about the 'work' bit.
'counsel' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for brief that I've seen before include "Short - work for a barrister" , "Barrister (sl.)" , "Fibre (anag.)" , "Succinct" , "brusque > QC, perhaps" .)