The Institute aims to give students the tools that will empower them to serve their community with skill and compassion. These include the Hansard Scholars Program, White House Internship, LMU-Oxford Scholars Summer Program, and other internships. Through the assistance of LMU trustee Tony Coelho, the Institute initiated an annual White House Internship Program in 1995. As part of the program, one LMU student is chosen annually to intern at the White House over the summer months. Besides the practical work experience and knowledge gained from such an internship, interns participate in a weekly speaker series, job-skill workshop, and evening issue lectures.
Seminars are on a wide range of job-related issues ranging from time management to career planning.
Participating LMU students have the opportunity to work in various departments of the White House. The Institute, in conjunction with the Honorable Graham Allen, member of the British Parliament, initiated an annual U.S.-Britain Hansard Fellows program. As part of the program, LMU students are exposed to the volatile world of British politics firsthand while receiving a full semester's academic credit through their studies at the London School of Economics. This program takes place at Queen's College at Oxford University. Held over the summer, the program includes upper division courses with lectures by Oxford dons and the Hon.