Employee Civil Rights in the Digital Age Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Erkel Law, P.C.
Overview
As digital tools continue to transform workplaces, concerns about worker privacy, equal treatment, and civil liberties have taken on greater urgency. Motivated by a commitment to defend employee rights and promote fairness, Erkel Law, P.C. created the 2026 Employee Civil Rights in the Digital Age Scholarship.
This $1,000 award asks students to analyze how technological developments—such as AI-driven hiring systems, employee monitoring, and workforce data analytics—affect employee civil rights. Applicants should identify current issues and recommend practical remedies or policy changes that would better protect privacy, ensure fairness, and uphold employees’ legal protections in an increasingly tech-centered workplace.
Eligibility
- Open to current high school seniors, students in vocational programs, undergraduate students, and graduate students who are legal residents of the United States and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
- Applicants must be enrolled in a vocational program or a two- to four-year post-secondary institution.
- Erkel Law, P.C. employees, their immediate family members (parent, child, sibling, spouse), and anyone living in the same household as those individuals (related or not) are ineligible.
- Candidates must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and be in good academic standing.
Application requirements
- Essay: Submit an original 750–1,000-word essay responding to this prompt: Examine how technological advances (for example, AI in hiring and workplace surveillance) have affected employee civil rights. Describe the key challenges and propose solutions or legislative approaches to protect privacy and ensure fair treatment in the digital era.
- Originality and AI policy: All essays will be assessed for originality and screened for AI-generated content. Submissions found to contain AI-written material will be disqualified.
- Resume: Provide a professional resume detailing academic achievements and work experience.
- Transcript: Include a current transcript. First-year college students, graduate students, or transfer students may provide an unofficial transcript from their current institution plus the most recent official transcript from any prior institution.
- High school applicants: May submit proof of acceptance to a college or university in lieu of a college transcript.
- Preference: Special consideration will be given to applicants who come from or are currently attending school in the state.
Note: Follow all instructions carefully and ensure each component is included for your application to be considered.