The more you give, the more you get.
It sounds simple. But it’s true.
Research consistently shows that “givers” ultimately outperform “takers” in meaningful ways—professionally and personally. If you’re interested in the data behind that idea, I highly recommend Give and Take by Adam Grant.
Law school is demanding—readings, cold calls, writing assignments, internship applications, and everything in between. But it’s also a unique time to build the habit of service.
At Roger Williams University School of Law, every student graduates with at least 50 hours of community service. Over the past few weeks, a group of us have been volunteering through the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, helping low-income community members prepare and file their taxes—for free.
To participate, we complete rigorous IRS training, pass certification exams, and earn authorization to prepare returns. We work in partnership with East Bay Community Action Program, a nonprofit serving individuals and families across Rhode Island.
The law school deepens the experience with substantive training in tax law and policy, led by Professors Ellen Farwell and Natasha Varyani, both of whom bring extensive real-world tax experience into the classroom. It’s been exciting to learn the technical aspects of tax law—but even more meaningful are the client interactions.
One client recently walked out saying, “You made my year.”
We helped them move from owing $800 to receiving a $600 refund—without paying a tax preparation company a single dollar.
Moments like that remind you why service matters.
At the same time, working in this space exposes how outdated and complex our tax system is. There are real opportunities to make it more efficient, equitable, and accessible.
Consider Estonia, often ranked among the most competitive tax systems globally for over a decade:
- Flat 20% income and corporate tax
- No tax on reinvested corporate profits
- Fully digital, pre-filled returns
- 3–5 minute filing process
I remember walking through Stockholm years ago when a friend filed their taxes on their phone in minutes. That level of efficiency isn’t theoretical—it already exists.
There’s enormous potential for innovation in this space. Entrepreneurs, policymakers, and lawyers alike have an opportunity to rethink how tax systems can better serve people.
Giving your time and skills to others is rewarding in itself. But it also sharpens your perspective, deepens your expertise, and connects you to your community in ways that purely transactional work never could.
The more you give, the more you get.