Trifle with attorney before midnight (5)
I believe the answer is:
today
'midnight' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to time as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'trifle with attorney' is the wordplay.
'trifle' becomes 'toy' (I've seen this in another clue).
'with' is an insertion indicator.
'attorney' becomes 'DA' (District Attorney).
'toy' enclosing 'da' is 'TODAY'.
'before' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for today that I've seen before include "Current period of 24 hours" , "The present time or age" , "Modern times" , "Yesterday's tomorrow" , "Nowadays" .)