IS glossary terms

Browse full definitions for every IS term in the Amicus glossary.

Islamic Finance

/ˌɪslɑːˈmɪk faɪˈnæns/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A financial system governed by Sharia law principles, prohibiting interest (riba) and emphasizing risk-sharing, asset-backed financing, and ethical investing.
    Islamic finance prohibits charging interest on loans, adhering to Sharia principles.
  2. (n.) The body of legal rules and practices regulating financial transactions compliant with Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh al-muamalat).
    The regulatory framework for Islamic finance ensures contracts comply with Sharia law.

Forms

  • islamic finance

Commentary

Islamic finance is distinct from conventional finance in its prohibition of interest and emphasis on risk-sharing and asset backing, requiring careful drafting of contracts to ensure compliance with Sharia principles.


Island Jurisdiction

/ˈaɪ.lənd ˌdʒʊə.rɪsˈdɪk.ʃən/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A jurisdiction that is primarily or exclusively limited to an island or group of islands, often involving specific legal and administrative authority distinct from mainland areas.
    The island jurisdiction enacted new maritime laws tailored to its coastal economy.

Forms

  • island jurisdictions

Commentary

The term typically emphasizes the geographic scope of legal authority, often relevant in matters of sovereignty, maritime law, and local governance.


Iso 14001

/ˌaɪsoʊ ˌwʌn ˌfɔr ˈzɪərəʊ wʌn/

Definitions

  1. (n.) An international standard specifying requirements for an effective environmental management system (EMS) to help organizations minimize environmental impact and comply with legal obligations.
    The company achieved ISO 14001 certification to demonstrate its commitment to environmental responsibility.

Forms

  • iso 14001

Commentary

ISO 14001 is commonly referenced in legal contexts concerning environmental compliance obligations and risk management, often integrated into legal audits and contracts.


Iso 45001

/ˌaɪsoʊ ˌfɔrˈfaɪftiθuː wʌn/

Definitions

  1. (n.) An international standard for occupational health and safety management systems to improve workplace safety and reduce risks.
    The company implemented ISO 45001 to enhance its employee safety protocols.

Forms

  • iso 45001

Commentary

ISO 45001 is frequently cited in legal contexts involving workplace safety regulations and compliance audits.


Isolat

/ˈaɪ.sə.læt/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A discrete portion of a substance, often referenced in intellectual property or regulatory contexts to denote an extracted sample.
    The patent described the novel process for obtaining the isolat from the original compound.

Commentary

Term 'isolat' is primarily used in technical legal contexts relating to substances; cross-reference with 'isolate' for broader usage.


Isolate

/ˈaɪsəˌleɪt/

Definitions

  1. (v.) To set apart from others, especially to separate a person or thing for legal, procedural, or safety reasons.
    The court isolated the witness to prevent external influence during testimony.
  2. (v.) To separate a piece of evidence for independent examination in legal proceedings.
    The investigator isolated the document for forensic analysis.

Forms

  • isolate(s)
  • isolated
  • isolating

Commentary

In legal drafting, "isolate" often involves physical or procedural separation to preserve integrity, prevent contamination, or ensure impartiality.


Isolated Clause

/ˈaɪsəˌleɪtɪd klɔːz/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A clause within a legal document that operates independently without dependence on other clauses for interpretation or enforcement.
    The contract contained an isolated clause specifying penalties for late delivery.

Forms

  • isolated clauses

Commentary

Isolated clauses must be drafted clearly to avoid ambiguity about their independent effect within legal instruments.


Isolated Incident

/ˈaɪsəˌleɪtɪd ˈɪnsɪdənt/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A single event or occurrence that is exceptional or unrelated to a pattern of behavior, often used in legal contexts to limit liability or claims.
    The court ruled that the harassment was an isolated incident and did not establish a hostile work environment.

Commentary

The term is often used to distinguish a one-time event from ongoing or repeated behavior in legal claims, which can affect the outcome of liability or discrimination cases.


Isolation

/ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən/

Definitions

  1. (n.) The state or condition of being separated from others, often to prevent communication, contact, or contamination, especially in legal, medical, or correctional contexts.
    The prisoner's isolation was ordered to prevent communication with other inmates.
  2. (n.) The exclusion of certain evidence or information in legal proceedings to ensure a fair trial or protect confidentiality.
    The judge ordered the isolation of privileged documents from the discovery process.

Commentary

In legal drafting, clarify the context of "isolation" as it may refer to physical separation (e.g., incarceration or medical) or procedural exclusion (e.g., evidence or information).


Isolation Area

/ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən ˈɛəriə/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A designated legal or regulatory space for separating individuals, materials, or data to prevent contamination, interference, or unauthorized access.
    The prison established an isolation area to segregate high-risk inmates from the general population.

Forms

  • isolation area
  • isolation areas

Commentary

In drafting, clearly define the purpose and criteria of an isolation area to avoid ambiguity, particularly regarding access restrictions and duration.


Isolation Order

/ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən ˈɔrdər/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A court or government directive mandating physical separation of a person or group to prevent disease spread or for security reasons.
    The judge issued an isolation order to contain the infectious disease outbreak.

Forms

  • isolation order
  • isolation orders

Commentary

Use clearly defined scope and duration to avoid ambiguity in enforcement.


Isolation Zone

/ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃən zoʊn/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A legally designated area established to control or restrict access in order to prevent contamination, preserve evidence, or protect public health and safety.
    The authorities set up an isolation zone around the hazardous spill to prevent unauthorized entry.

Forms

  • isolation zone
  • isolation zones

Commentary

"Isolation zone" is typically a fixed term in legal contexts involving health, environmental, or security regulations and should be clearly defined when used in legal documents to specify its boundaries and restrictions.


Isolationism

/ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃəˌnɪzəm/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A national policy of refraining from political or economic entanglements with other countries to maintain autonomy.
    The country's adoption of isolationism limited its involvement in international treaties.

Commentary

Isolationism often appears in international law discussions regarding state sovereignty and nonintervention policies.


Issuance

/ɪˈsuːəns/

Definitions

  1. (n.) The act of formally delivering or distributing a legal document, instrument, or security.
    The issuance of the court summons initiated the legal process.
  2. (n.) The process by which a government or entity creates and puts into circulation official documents or financial instruments, such as bonds or stocks.
    The issuance of government bonds helps finance public projects.

Commentary

Issuance commonly denotes the authorized act of formally producing or distributing documents or instruments, often requiring strict procedural adherence in legal contexts.


Issue

/ˈɪʃuː/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A point of law or fact in dispute between parties in a legal proceeding.
    The court must resolve the key issues before issuing a judgment.
  2. (n.) A legal right or entitlement that is the subject of a lawsuit or legal claim.
    The plaintiff asserted an issue of ownership over the property.
  3. (n.) The act of formally delivering or sending out a legal document, such as a summons or writ.
    The issue of the subpoena signaled the start of discovery.
  4. (n.) The offspring or children of a person, particularly in matters of inheritance law.
    Under the will, the estate passes to the decedent's issue.

Forms

  • issues
  • issuing
  • issued

Commentary

The term 'issue' in legal contexts can refer to various concepts depending on usage; precise context is key to understanding whether it relates to factual questions, procedural acts, or family law.


Issue of Fact

/ˈɪʃuː əv fækt/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A disputed question about the facts of a case to be resolved by the trier of fact.
    The jury must determine the issue of fact before applying the law.

Commentary

Distinguish issues of fact from issues of law; the former pertains to factual disputes decided by a judge or jury, whereas the latter involves legal interpretation.


Issue of Law

/ˈɪʃuː əv ˈlɔː/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A question concerning the interpretation or application of law that a court must decide.
    The judge ruled on a critical issue of law before the trial proceeded.

Forms

  • issue of law

Commentary

Distinguished from issues of fact, issues of law focus solely on legal rules and their meaning rather than factual disputes.


Issue Preclusion

/ˈɪʃuː prɪˈkluːʒən/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A doctrine preventing re-litigation of an issue already judicially decided between the same parties.
    Issue preclusion bars the plaintiff from raising the same question in a new lawsuit.

Forms

  • issue preclusions

Commentary

Issue preclusion focuses on preventing repeated litigation of particular issues, unlike claim preclusion which bars entire claims.


Issue Spotting

/ˈɪʃu ˈspɒtɪŋ/

Definitions

  1. (n.) The practice of identifying and articulating legal issues within facts or case materials.
    Effective issue spotting is crucial for law students in exam preparation.

Forms

  • issue spotting

Commentary

Issue spotting is fundamental in law education and legal analysis, guiding the identification of relevant legal questions before deeper application or argument.


Issued Capital

/ˈɪʃuːd ˈkæpɪtl/

Definitions

  1. (n.) The total nominal value of shares that a company has allotted to shareholders at any given time.
    The company's issued capital increased after the new shares were allocated to investors.

Forms

  • issued capital

Commentary

Issued capital specifically refers to shares that have been allocated, distinguishing it from authorized capital which is the maximum a company can issue.


Issued Share Capital

/ˈɪʃuːd ʃɛər ˈkæpɪtl/

Definitions

  1. (n.) The total nominal value of shares that a company has issued to shareholders, representing part of the company's equity.
    The company's issued share capital increased after the new stock issuance.

Forms

  • issued share capital

Commentary

Often distinguished from authorized share capital, issued share capital reflects the actual shares allotted to investors rather than the maximum allowed.


Issued Shares

/ˈɪʃuːd ʃɛərz/

Definitions

  1. (n.) The total number of shares a corporation has allocated and sold to shareholders, representing ownership in the company.
    The company's issued shares determine the voting power each shareholder holds.

Forms

  • issued shares

Commentary

Issued shares reflect equity ownership transferred to shareholders and exclude shares not yet allotted; drafting often distinguishes issued from authorized and outstanding shares for clarity.


Issuer

/ˈɪʃuːər/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A legal entity that creates and offers securities, such as stocks or bonds, for sale to investors.
    The issuer filed a registration statement with the securities commission.
  2. (n.) A party that issues negotiable instruments, such as checks or promissory notes, thereby promising payment.
    The issuer of the check is responsible for its payment upon presentment.

Forms

  • issuers

Commentary

In securities law, the term applies primarily to entities offering investment instruments; in commercial law, it denotes the party creating negotiable instruments. Clear context is key when drafting to avoid ambiguity.


Issuer Bank

/ˈɪʃuər bæŋk/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A bank or financial institution that issues payment cards or credit, assuming liability for repayment to the cardholder or borrower.
    The issuer bank authorized the customer's credit card transaction.

Forms

  • issuer bank

Commentary

In financial law contexts, issuer bank typically refers to the bank that issues credit or debit cards and is responsible for payment obligations under card agreements.


Issuing Bank

/ˈɪʃuːɪŋ bæŋk/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A financial institution that issues payment cards or letters of credit and is responsible for paying the holder's transactions.
    The issuing bank approved the credit card transaction after verifying the customer's credit limit.

Forms

  • issuing bank
  • issuing banks

Commentary

In drafting, distinguish clearly between the issuing bank and the acquiring bank to avoid ambiguity in payment processing contexts.

Glossary – IS Terms