ABOUT WILLIAM

Admitted to practice in the State of Washington (1972), Colorado (2006), United States Federal District Court (1973), and United State Supreme Court (1982). Juris Doctor, University of Washington (1972).

In 1984 he established the first disability law practice in the country, the former Dussault Law Group which became the preeminent disability and elder law practice in the U.S. He sold his interest in that firm in 2016. In 2017, he joined the firm of Aiken, St. Louis & Siljeg, P.S. established in 1959. He moved his practice to ensure his long-standing values, integrity and commitment to his clients and the disability community would endure in another generation of attorneys committed to this area of practice.

He is a member of the American Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association, Eagle Member of Washington State Association for Justice and Seattle-King County Bar Association.

Mr. Dussault is known as the originator of the Special Needs Trust (1973) now widely used in planning for individuals who experience disability. He was instrumental in passing the first Special Education law, “Education for All” (1971), which for the first time in history mandated all children have a right to public education. He has been involved with numerous state and national groups concerned with legal issues impacting persons with disabilities. He has served as counsel to TASH, an international association of people with disabilities, and was vice chair of the American Bar Association Family Law Committee serving persons who experience cognitive disabilities. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Brain Injury Association of America, is a member of the Professional Advisory Board of the Autism Society of America and is the founding president of the Washington Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Mr. Dussault has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Washington School of Law and School of Nursing on Nursing Law and Ethics. He has served as a legal advisor or Board Committee Chair for the National ARC, the Autism Society of America (ASA), the Epilepsy Foundation of American and numerous state advocacy organizations including those representing seniors who experience Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Mr. Dussault served two terms on the Washington State Bar Committee on Professional Ethics. He is a frequent presenter at local and national attorney seminars and symposiums. He presents on ethics and malpractice in settlement of personal injury actions, coordination of public benefits and private assets and all aspects of disability law. He has been included as one of the top 150 lawyers in the State by Seattle magazine, named one of the top lawyers in Washington State by Washington State Law and Politics, awarded the 2003 Butch Blum award as one of four most influential lawyers in Washington, awarded Life Time Achievement by the ARC of King County and awarded the Washington Bar Associations highest honor, The Merit Award in 2012.  

Mr. Dussault’s areas of practice include: personal injury settlement planning and consultation; special needs and other trusts; estate planning for estates of all sizes; elder and disability law; guardianship and trust establishment and administration; public benefits for all ages; probate and special education.

He and his wife, Kate, routinely donate and volunteer for state, national and international programs which enhance the lives of individuals who experience disability.