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Lawyers Without Billboards
Real lawyers, real talk—without the billboards. Lawyers Without Billboards is an unfiltered look at family law, hosted by the partners of Shewmaker & Lewis: Steve and Patty Shewmaker, and Jimmy and Alexa Lewis.
With decades of experience in divorce, custody battles, child support, alimony, and criminal law, they break down legal myths, share expert insights, and dive into real cases (sometimes with a side of humor).
Expect candid conversations, legal deep dives, and the occasional sidebar on pop culture, legal movies, and life as family law attorneys. Whether you're navigating a family law issue, practicing law yourself, or just enjoy courtroom drama, this podcast offers valuable insights with a dose of levity.
New episodes every two weeks
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Lawyers Without Billboards
Phil McCurdy on Au Pairs, Divorce, and 37 Years of Family Law | Lawyers Without Billboards - Ep 41
Phil McCurdy on Au Pairs, Divorce, and 37 Years of Family Law
In this episode of Lawyers Without Billboards, Steve, Patty, Jimmy, and Alexa sit down with longtime Georgia family law attorney Phil McCurdy, bringing more than 37 years of courtroom experience to one deceptively simple question:
Is hiring a live-in au pair ever a good idea?
From real divorce cases to power imbalances, courtroom consequences, and judgment calls that unravel marriages, Phil breaks down what actually happens when help at home becomes a legal nightmare.
Along the way, the conversation takes its usual unscripted turns, blending sharp legal insight with humor, war stories, and a brand-new game.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why au pairs are rarely the solution people think they are
- How live-in help can accelerate divorce, custody fights, and financial disputes
- Power imbalance issues when employment, housing, and immigration overlap
- What courts actually care about when au pairs become part of the case
- Real-world cases involving au pairs from the U.S. and abroad
- When poor judgment matters more than infidelity
- A new recurring segment
Episode Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to Lawyers Without Billboards
02:29 - Introducing Phil McCurdy and 37 years of family law
08:58 - The au pair question and why it keeps showing up in divorce cases
12:36 - Power dynamics, employment, and legal risk
17:14 - When judgment matters more than adultery
20:26 - So should you ever hire an au pair?
22:52 - **** Jimmy Doesn’t Know (new segment debut)
26:41 - Final takeaways and closing thoughts
🎧 Subscribe for more real-world family law conversations with no gimmicks, no legal jargon, and no billboards.
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📩 Contact: sshewmaker@shewmakerandlewis.com
🌐 Website: https://www.shewmakerandlewis.com
🎧 Podcast Library: https://shewmakerandlewis.com/lawyers-without-billboards
📺 Subscribe for new episodes and candid conversations about family law, custody, mediation, and conflict resolution.
🎼 Music by Ben Hernandez at Dragonsong Productions
🎥 Produced by: Bleeding Edge, Inc.
🎬 Audio & Video Production: Rob Burgner
📍 Recorded at: Shewmaker & Lewis, Atlanta, GA