Jay Colvin Causey JR

Jay Colvin Causey JR practiced for nearly 40 years in the area of workers’ compensation and disability law, including Washington state workers’ compensation claims, Social Security disability cases, Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Act cases, Defense Base Act claims, and maritime injury cases.

As of the end of 2016 he retired from active case handling, but will continue to assist Causey Wright with management and practice development, along with his ongoing organization work. Under Causey Mediation, Jay offers mediation services in Longshore and Harbor Worker, Defense Base Act, and complex workers’ compensation cases.

Jay is past chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Washington State Association for Justice (formerly the Washington State Trial Lawyers’ Association), and from 1994 to 1995 served as Chair of the Workers’ Compensation section of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), now called the American Association for Justice (AAJ).

Jay was a founding and charter member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, established in 1979. In 1995, Jay was one of a cadre of lawyers involved in national workers’ compensation issues who founded the Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG), a non-profit association connecting and supporting workers’ attorneys in all 50 states.

From its inception with fewer than 20 lawyers, WILG membership is now comprised of over 1100 attorneys, paralegals, and other associates, and is now regarded as the principal national watchdog organization monitoring and defending the rights of injured and diseased workers. WILG has played a significant role in helping states resist proposed changes to their workers’ compensation systems that reduce coverage and benefits.

Jay has been a member of the WILG Board of Directors since its creation, has served a two-year term as president, currently serves as a Vice President and member of WILG’s Executive Committee, and is creator and an editor of Workers’ First Watch, WILG’s periodical magazine.

Jay received his JD from the University Washington School of Law 1971. He graduated from Yale University in 1967 with a BA in history. He also served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.