Very lawful petition (7)
I believe the answer is:
solicit
'petition' is the definition.
(both can mean to request or implore)
'very lawful' is the wordplay.
'very' becomes 'so' (both can mean 'extremely').
'lawful' becomes 'licit' (synonyms).
'so'+'licit'='SOLICIT'
(Other definitions for solicit that I've seen before include "Ask earnestly about colitis" , "Drum up business" , "Request urgently and/or persistently" , "Make request (for business etc)" , "Ask (someone) for something" .)