Business

Entrepreneur Ethan Duran: The One Thing That Sets Me Apart From the Competition is Impeccable Service

Published

6 years ago

October 6, 2020

When your clients appreciate the finer things in life, they expect their patronage to be rewarded with excellent service. Ethan Duran, a 22-year-old entrepreneur and the CEO of Corsa Auto Rental, understands this and says top-notch service sets him apart from the competition.

Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York, Duran stumbled upon the exotic car rentals industry by mere chance. When he relocated to Los Angeles with the intention of getting into investment banking, he recognized the potential of exotic car rentals. And with it came the realization that he could do it better than were the people already in the industry. Getting into the sector proved to be a great career decision as he made USD 2.7 million in year one and was able to provide for his family in ways that he wasn’t able to previously.

“Build trust, with your clients, with your friends, with everyone you meet,” says Duran. “It’ll pay off. Karma might not be real, but reputation definitely is. You want to be someone everyone can trust, especially if you’re young. When all odds are against you, you want to be able to show that you’re responsible and trustworthy.”

Duran, who earned an associate’s degree in Business Administration from Seminole State, knows what sacrifice is all about. In fact, he worked 18-hour days and seven days a week in year one of running his company. This meant missing out on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year celebrations with family. But those sacrifices later allowed him to make it up to his hard-working mom. He has paid off her debt, bought her a house and car, and even assisted her in establishing a local business that now generates USD 400,000 annually. Duran has managed to do just fine for someone who used to get stressed out over how to achieve success. And this is just the beginning because he’s currently working on Corsa Auto Rental Miami, Corsa Models, Corsa Water Sports, and Corsa Media. Another successful business he’s investing time and energy into is his Exotic Car Rental Academy, where he teaches people how to succeed in the industry. Students from all over the world take his course, and he’s been able to grow Corsa Auto Rental with his top students’ help. Together, they’re offering customers the best service in the industry.

“I treat my customers like family,” says Duran. “Eight out of 10 times my customers become my friends, and we hang out either the same day they rent or sometime in the future. My customers come to me for all their needs in and out of the automotive industry.”

Business

Click for Counsel: YesLawyer Wants to Make Lawyers as Accessible as Wi-Fi

Published

6 days ago

April 1, 2026

Matthew Wiles

Photo Courtesy of: YesLawyer

Byline: Andi Stark

For many people facing a legal problem, the most difficult part is not understanding their rights but finding a lawyer willing to speak with them in the first place. Long wait times, unclear pricing, and administrative hurdles often delay even the most basic consultations. YesLawyer, an AI-enabled plaintiff firm operating across all 50 states, is testing whether technology can shorten that gap.

Founded in 2024 by 25-year-old entrepreneur Rob Epstein, the platform offers free intake, automated screening, and, in many cases, same-day conversations with licensed attorneys. The idea is simple: reduce the friction between a client’s first request for help and an actual legal discussion. In this interview, Epstein explains how the system works, where artificial intelligence fits into the process, and what problems the company is trying to address in the broader legal system

Q: When you say you want lawyers to be “as accessible as Wi-Fi,” what does that mean in practical terms?

A: It’s a way of describing speed and availability. Someone dealing with a workplace dispute, a serious injury, or an immigration issue should be able to move from an online form or phone call to a real conversation with counsel in hours, not weeks. YesLawyer is structured so that a client begins with a free case evaluation, goes through automated conflict checks and basic screening, and, in many instances, speaks with a lawyer the same day.

Q: How does the process work once someone contacts the platform?

A: We use a structured workflow. It starts with a short questionnaire and an initial conversation to capture basic facts. That information feeds into conflict checks and internal review. The system then proposes a match with a licensed attorney and provides a calendar link for a virtual consultation, often within 24 hours. After the meeting, the client receives a written legal plan outlining next steps, deadlines, and estimated fees.

Q: Where does artificial intelligence fit into that process, and where does it stop?

A: AI is used for organizing and routing information, not for giving legal advice. It helps with conflict checks at scale, case categorization, and structured summaries so attorneys can focus on the substance of the matter. Every consultation is conducted by a licensed lawyer, and all decisions about strategy or next steps are made by humans.

Q: What problem is this model trying to solve in the current legal system?

A: Delay and cost are still major barriers. Many civil plaintiffs face long waits just to get a first appointment, along with high retainers and hourly billing that make early legal advice risky. We try to respond with faster consultations, flat-fee options, and financing. The idea is to remove administrative friction so lawyers spend less time on logistics and more time speaking with clients.

Q: Some critics say platforms like this blur the line between a technology company and a law firm. How do you describe YesLawyer?

A: We describe ourselves as a national, AI-enabled plaintiff firm that connects clients with independent attorneys. That structure does raise regulatory questions, especially around responsibility and oversight. We focus on licensing verification, attorney-written case plans, and clear communication about fees and services.

Q: You’ve said the main bottleneck is “systems” rather than people. What do you mean by that?

A: The issue isn’t that lawyers don’t want to help more people. It’s that the systems around them make it hard to scale their time. Intake, scheduling, and document handling take hours. Automating those parts means attorneys can handle more matters without being overwhelmed by repetitive tasks.

Q: Does this model risk favoring only the most profitable cases?

A: That’s a real concern in legal technology. Automation often works best for repeatable, high-volume disputes. Our view is that lowering administrative cost can actually make it easier to take on smaller or more complex cases that might otherwise be turned away. Whether that holds over time depends on the data.

Measuring Impact Over Time

YesLawyer’s attempt to compress the timeline between inquiry and consultation reflects broader changes in how legal services are being delivered. As artificial intelligence becomes more common in administrative work, firms are experimenting with new ways to reduce wait times and clarify costs.

The company’s early growth suggests that many clients value faster access to an initial conversation, even before considering long-term representation. Whether this platform-based model becomes widely adopted or remains one of several emerging approaches will depend on regulatory developments, lawyer participation, and measurable outcomes for clients. For now, YesLawyer’s experiment highlights a central question in modern legal practice: how quickly can help realistically be made available to the people who need it.