Navigating Mental Health & Substance Use Treatment Leaves in the Legal Profession [Panel Discussion]

Discussing a leave of absence for mental health or substance use disorder can be challenging—but knowing your rights, how to communicate your needs, and how to transition back to work can make all the difference.

Watch this webinar to get practical strategies and expert insights on:

Approaching your supervisor about taking a leave
Preparing for a smooth return and advocating for what you need
Rebuilding confidence and professional momentum after time away
A managing partner’s perspective on the business side of granting leaves and firm culture
Recognizing when it’s time to step away for your well-being
Handling workplace conversations upon your return
Understanding your legal rights in Massachusetts regarding leave, pay, and job security

Whether you’re considering a leave, preparing to return, or supporting a colleague, this session will offer valuable tools to help you navigate the process with confidence and clarity.

MEET OUR PANEL

AMY LEVINE
Director of Programs and Volunteers, LCL MA
(MODERATOR)

Amy coordinates LCL’s educational programming as well as contributions to our organization from across the Massachusetts legal profession.

Amy Levine has over 20 years working in the legal industry including working at Goulston & Storrs and Hale and Dorr (currently WilmerHale) and spent the last 15 years working as a vice president and legal recruiter at one of the top legal staffing firms in New England. She has experience in recruiting, coaching, counseling, professional development, and career management. She received her Master of Social Work degree from Boston University and has dedicated her career to improving people’s lives.

BETH MYERS, ESQ.
Zucker Law Group, LLP

Beth Myers specializes in employment law, representing clients in every aspect of the employment relationship with a particular concentration on litigation, representation of executives on employment matters, and advising business clients on management-side employment issues. She was a partner at Burns & Levinson LLP in its Employment Group prior to founding ZLG.

Beth represents individuals and businesses in litigation in state and federal court in cases involving discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation, wage and hour and misclassification laws, as well as breach of non-compete agreements. She works with executives to negotiate compensation, severance and non-competition agreements and provides counseling on offers of employment and strategic exits. Additionally, Beth counsels businesses on all aspects of employment matters, including negotiation of severance agreements, complicated issues involving medical and parental leave and wage and hour matters.

Education
Northeastern University School of Law, J.D. (2009)
New York University, B.A., Psychology (2004)

DAVID ROSENBLATT, ESQ.
Retired Partner, Burns & Levinson

David Rosenblatt is a recently retired attorney and law firm partner who practiced at the Boston-based firm, Burns & Levinson LLP for over four decades. He also served as Managing Partner of the firm for 24 years, stepping down in April 2023. He practiced environmental law, specializing in litigation, negotiation, and permitting concerning hazardous waste, solid waste, air, and water issues, and resolving environmental matters in real estate and corporate transactions.

Outside the office, David has focused on lawyer mental health issues. In 2018-2019, he served on the Supreme Judicial Court’s Steering Committee on Lawyer Well-Being, which was formed to explore and make recommendations regarding the state of well-being in the legal profession. He currently serves as a Board member and Treasurer of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, a nonprofit that promotes well-being, resilience, and mental health for lawyers in Massachusetts. David also serves on the Board of the Commonwealth Land Trust, a non-profit organization that owns and manages buildings and housing units for homeless people in Boston.

He received his JD from Boston College Law School and completed his undergraduate degree from Trinity College-Hartford.

SHAWN HEALY, PHD
Director of Administrative Operations and Staff Clinician, LCLMA

In his clinical role, Shawn provides individual clinical consultations and groups to law students, lawyers, judges, and legal professionals. He regularly presents and publishes mental health topics germane to the legal community. Shawn is also a certified trainer in Mental Health First Aid and serves as a co-chair of the Mass Bar Association’s Lawyer Well-Being Committee.

Prior to his work at a private group practice in Cambridge, Shawn worked at the May Institute, Inc. for 10 years where he initially completed his pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship, and later became the Clinical Director and finally the Director of Clinical Services and Operations for the Behavioral Health Division. Shawn graduated from Suffolk University in Boston, MA in 2006 with his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.