Browse full definitions for every IL term in the Amicus glossary.
/ɪˈliːɡəl/
The defendant was found guilty of illegal possession of firearms.
The contract was declared illegal due to fraud.
Often used interchangeably with "unlawful," though some legal systems distinguish them; careful drafting should specify the exact legal prohibition or sanction involved.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ækt/
Committing an illegal act can lead to criminal prosecution.
The term broadly covers any conduct prohibited by law; its precise scope depends on statutory and case law context.
/ɪˈliːɡəl əˈrɛst/
The court ruled the evidence inadmissible due to the defendant's illegal arrest.
Illegal arrest often implicates Fourth Amendment rights and may render evidence obtained inadmissible under the exclusionary rule.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ˈbɛtɪŋ/
The defendant was charged with illegal betting for operating an unauthorized gambling ring.
Illegal betting often hinges on jurisdictional statutes that define which games or betting activities are prohibited; clarity in statute drafting is essential to distinguish legal from illegal forms.
/ɪˈliːgəl ˈkɒntrækt/
The court declared the agreement an illegal contract due to its unlawful subject matter.
An illegal contract cannot be used to claim damages after a breach.
Illegal contracts are distinct from void contracts; the former involves illegality making enforcement impossible, while the latter lacks essential elements of a valid contract.
/ɪˈliːɡəl dɪˈtɛnʃən/
The court found the police liable for illegal detention of the suspect beyond the permitted time limit.
Illegal detention is distinct from lawful arrest or detention, requiring absence of legal basis; precise terms vary by jurisdiction but center on unauthorized deprivation of liberty.
/ɪˈliːɡəl drʌɡ lɔːz/
Illegal drug laws aim to control substances deemed harmful to society.
Legal definitions and enforcement of illegal drug laws vary significantly by jurisdiction and frequently evolve with shifts in public policy and social attitudes.
/ɪˈliːɡəl drʌɡ treɪd/
Law enforcement agencies have intensified efforts to combat the illegal drug trade.
Cross-border policing is crucial to dismantle the illegal drug trade.
Term covers both the criminal activities and the market structure; use precise legal context to distinguish regulatory, criminal, and enforcement perspectives.
/ɪˈliːɡəl drʌɡz/
Possession of illegal drugs is punishable by law in most jurisdictions.
The term 'illegal drugs' often overlaps with 'controlled substances,' but the former specifically denotes substances prohibited by law, distinguishing them from legally regulated drugs.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ɛmˈplɔɪmənt/
The company was fined for illegal employment of undocumented workers.
This term primarily relates to labor and immigration law, highlighting the legal risks of hiring individuals without compliance with employment authorization requirements.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ˈɛntri/
The individual was charged with illegal entry after crossing the border without documentation.
The company reported an instance of illegal entry into their secure database by hackers.
When drafting, distinguish the context of 'illegal entry' as either immigration-related or relating to unauthorized access to property or systems.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ɪkˈspɛnʃər/
The audit revealed illegal expenditure of government funds on personal expenses.
Illegal expenditure typically implies not only unauthorized spending but also a breach of legal standards, often triggering criminal or administrative liability.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ˈfɪʃɪŋ/
The government strengthened patrols to combat illegal fishing in its territorial waters.
Illegal fishing often undermines conservation efforts and economic sustainability for coastal communities.
Illegal fishing laws often involve overlapping jurisdictional and environmental considerations, making precise statutory definitions crucial for enforcement.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ˈɡæmblɪŋ/
The defendant was charged with illegal gambling for operating an unlicensed betting shop.
Authorities raided the premises for illegal gambling activity lacking proper licenses.
The term broadly covers various prohibited gambling activities; precise legal definitions may vary by jurisdiction.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ˈɡeɪmɪŋ/
The company was shut down for engaging in illegal gaming operations without a license.
Term commonly appears in statutes and regulatory contexts to describe gambling activities conducted without legal authorization; precise definition may vary by jurisdiction.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ɡʊdz/
The police seized illegal goods during the raid on the warehouse.
The term encompasses a broad range of products outlawed by statute or regulation, often necessitating specific legal definitions in statute or case law to determine the scope of illegality.
/ɪˈlɪɡəl ˈɡrætʃuːɪti/
The executive was convicted for accepting an illegal gratuity from a contractor after awarding the government project.
Illegal gratuities differ from bribes in that the official act has occurred or is about to occur, but the payment is made as a reward rather than a quid pro quo inducement.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ˌɪmɪˈɡreɪʃən/
The government enacted stricter laws to curb illegal immigration.
Illegal immigration often raises complex economic and policy issues.
The term 'illegal immigration' is often replaced by 'undocumented immigration' in some jurisdictions to reduce pejorative connotations; legal definitions vary by jurisdiction and context.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ˌɪmpɔːrtˈeɪʃən/
The company faced heavy fines for illegal importation of restricted goods.
Typically involves bypassing legal channels or declaration requirements; legal language often distinguishes this from mere unauthorized importation by emphasizing statutory or regulatory prohibitions.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ɪmˈprɪzənmənt/
The defendant was charged with illegal imprisonment for detaining the victim without cause.
Illegal imprisonment is legally distinct from lawful arrest and requires absence of lawful authority or consent.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ˈmɑːrkɪt/
Authorities seized goods suspected to have been traded in the illegal market.
The term typically connotes unlawful commercial activity; drafting should clarify the specific legal violations involved.
/ɪˈliːɡəl ˌpɔːrnəˈɡræfi/
Possession and distribution of illegal pornography can result in criminal prosecution.
The term specifically denotes pornography that violates legal statutes, often requiring precise statutory definitions to distinguish from protected adult pornography.
/ɪˈliːɡəl pəˈzɛʃən/
The defendant was charged with illegal possession of narcotics after police found drugs in his car.
Legal definitions of illegal possession often specify the nature of the item and applicable regulations; drafting should clarify jurisdictional standards and intent requirements.
/ɪˈliːɡəl treɪd/
The authorities cracked down on illegal trade in endangered animal parts.
The company was fined for engaging in illegal trade with sanctioned countries.
Illegal trade encompasses various unlawful commercial activities and often requires precise statutory reference to identify applicable penalties and enforcement mechanisms.
/ɪˌlɛɡˈælɪti/
The contract was declared void due to illegality.
The invalidity of the will was caused by illegality in its execution.
Commonly used to describe acts or conditions that violate legal norms; essential to distinguish between illegality affecting validity and mere immorality.
/ɪˈliːɡəli/
The documents were obtained illegally, rendering them inadmissible in court.
Used to describe actions done in violation of legal statutes; commonly appears in legal contexts to assess admissibility, liability, or culpability.
/ˌɪləˈdʒɪtɪmət/
The court ruled that the child was illegitimate under the applicable statutes.
Historically, illegitimate children had limited inheritance rights compared to legitimate heirs.
The contract was deemed illegitimate due to fraud in its formation.
In legal contexts, 'illegitimate' usually pertains to status or validity, often contrasting with 'legitimate.' Use precision given changing laws affecting legitimacy status and inheritance rights.
/ɪˌlɛdʒɪˈtɪmət əˈθɔːrɪti/
The court declared the agency's orders as illegitimate authority lacking statutory basis.
The regime was widely viewed as possessing illegitimate authority due to its seizure of power by force.
Use carefully to distinguish between mere lack of legitimacy and unlawful exercise of power; often requires factual and legal analysis to establish illegitimacy distinct from mere unpopularity.
/ɪˈlɪsɪt/
The court ruled that the evidence was obtained through illicit means and was inadmissible.
Use 'illicit' to emphasize unauthorized or forbidden status, often with moral or legal implications distinct from merely 'illegal'.
/ɪˈlɪsɪt ækt/
The court found the defendant guilty of an illicit act involving unauthorized transactions.
The term typically appears in statutory and criminal contexts to denote acts prohibited by law; drafting should clarify the jurisdiction and scope of prohibition to avoid ambiguity.
/ɪˈlɪsɪt drʌɡz/
The police seized a large quantity of illicit drugs during the raid.
The term 'illicit drugs' typically appears in plural form but is treated as a collective noun; legal texts often specify particular substances by name or schedule.
/ɪˈlɪsɪt pəˈzɛʃən/
The defendant was charged with illicit possession of controlled substances.
Illicit possession is distinct from lawful possession by the absence of legal justification or permission.
/ɪˈlɪsɪt treɪd/
Authorities cracked down on illicit trade to curb the spread of counterfeit medicines.
Illicit trade is a broad term encompassing various unlawful commercial activities; legal definitions may vary depending on jurisdiction and subject matter, so precision in context is important.
/ɪˈlɪsɪtli/
The documents were obtained illicitly and thus were inadmissible in court.
Used as an adverb to describe actions done in violation of law or regulation; commonly appears in contexts involving evidence, contracts, or property rights obtained unlawfully.
/ɪˈlɪsɪtnəs/
The court considered the illicitness of the transaction in determining its validity.
Illicitness typically denotes the nature of something forbidden by law or rules; in legal drafting, precise use distinguishes unlawful acts from merely improper ones.
/ɪˈlɪtərət/
The illiterate defendant required a court-appointed interpreter to understand the charges.
In legal contexts, illiteracy can impact a person's ability to comprehend legal documents and may necessitate accommodations to ensure fair procedure.
/ˈɪl.nəs/
The claimant provided medical evidence of his illness to support his disability benefits application.
In legal contexts, illness often serves as a basis for claims related to workers' compensation, insurance benefits, and accommodations, requiring precise medical evidence.
/ɪˈluːməˌneɪt/
The attorney sought to illuminate the ambiguous clause during the trial.
In legal contexts, 'illuminate' often refers to clarifying complex legal issues or evidence rather than literal light.
/ɪˌluːmɪˈneɪʃən/
The judge's illumination of the statute helped clarify its ambiguous language.
The legal scholar's illumination of the case highlighted its broader constitutional implications.
In legal writing, 'illumination' typically refers to explanatory commentary that aids in understanding complex texts; it differs from mere annotation by emphasizing clarity and insight.
/ɪˌluːməˈneɪʃən ˌrɛɡjʊˈleɪʃənz/
The municipality enacted illumination regulations to reduce light pollution and ensure safety at night.
Illumination regulations often intersect with environmental and safety laws; drafters should clearly define applicable areas and measurement standards to avoid ambiguity.
/ɪˌlʌstrəˈreɪʃən/
The contract included an illustration of the payment schedule to ensure clarity.
The lawyer provided an illustration of prior case law to strengthen her position.
In legal contexts, illustration often refers both to visual aids in documentation and to cited examples from case law; clarity in usage depends on context.
/ɪˈlʌstrətɪv/
The court included illustrative examples to explain the application of the statute.
In legal drafting, 'illustrative' often connotes that examples are provided for clarity but are not exhaustive or legally binding.
/ɪˈlʌstrətɪv keɪs/
The court cited the illustrative case to demonstrate the application of the law.
An illustrative case is often employed in legal writing and teaching to highlight how rules apply without establishing binding precedent.
/ˌaɪˌɛlˈoʊ kənˈvɛnʃənz/
The ILO Conventions establish fundamental principles on workers' rights globally.
ILO Conventions often serve as benchmarks for national labor legislation and may require ratification to be binding on member states.
