$10,000 in Scholarship Awards
One South Carolina Student + One North Carolina Student
The Elrod Pope Legacy Scholarship honors two influential leaders in our firm’s history, Luke Elrod and Jack Leader, whose integrity, dedication to the law, and commitment to serving their communities continue to inspire our firm today.
Each year, Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys awards two $5,000 scholarships, one to a deserving student in South Carolina and one to a deserving student in North Carolina.
Through the Elrod Pope Legacy Scholarship, we hope to encourage the next generation to think critically about the issues shaping our communities and pursue their futures with excellence, service, and purpose.
This year, we are changing things up.
Instead of submitting a traditional written essay, applicants will submit a 2 to 3 minute video sharing their perspective on an emerging issue at the intersection of technology, safety, and the law.
Your Question
What do you think is the biggest legal challenge self-driving vehicles will create?
Self-driving vehicles have the potential to change how we travel, but new technology also raises new legal questions. We want to hear what you think.
There is no single correct answer. We are looking for thoughtful, original responses that clearly explain your perspective and demonstrate your ability to think critically about how technology and the law intersect.
You do not have to answer each of the questions below. Instead, use them as prompts to help you develop your response:
Who should be responsible when a self-driving vehicle causes an accident?
How can society balance innovation with accountability as self-driving vehicles become more common?
If you could create one new law related to self-driving vehicles, what would it be and why?
Should the person inside a self-driving vehicle have the same legal responsibilities as someone driving a traditional vehicle?
How should lawmakers approach situations where technology advances faster than existing laws?
What responsibilities should vehicle manufacturers and technology companies have when their systems make mistakes?
We encourage you to take a position, explain your reasoning, and make the response your own.
Your video should:
Professional video equipment and advanced editing are not required. Videos recorded on a smartphone, tablet, or computer are perfectly acceptable.
We are interested in your ideas, not your production skills.
SUBMISSIONS OPEN NOW
SUBMISSIONS CLOSE
MARCH 1, 2027
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
APRIL 1, 2027
All application materials must be submitted by the stated deadline to be considered.
The Elrod Pope Legacy Scholarship is open to eligible students who reside in South Carolina or North Carolina and are:
Two recipients will be selected.
To be considered for the Elrod Pope Legacy Scholarship, applicants must submit a complete application that includes:
Please submit your resume, application, video, and headshot using the link below. To help us organize submissions, include your full name in each file name.
All required materials must be received by the application deadline. Incomplete or late applications may not be considered.
A panel from Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys will review eligible submissions and select the two scholarship recipients.
Applicants will be evaluated based on:
Video production quality will not be a primary judging factor. Students will not receive an advantage for professional filming, expensive equipment, or advanced editing.
No. A smartphone, tablet, webcam, or similar device is perfectly acceptable. We care much more about what you have to say than how professionally your video is produced.
No. The additional questions are provided only to help you think through the topic. Your video should focus primarily on answering:
What do you think is the biggest legal challenge self-driving vehicles will create?
Yes. Basic editing is permitted, but it is not required. Your submission will be evaluated primarily on your ideas, reasoning, and communication.
Yes. Research can help strengthen your argument. Any outside information or materials should be appropriately credited.
A panel from Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys will review eligible applications and select the two recipients.
The two scholarship recipients will be notified directly and announced publicly by Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys.
Each recipient will receive a $5,000 scholarship. Scholarship checks will be made payable to both the student and the accredited two-year or four-year college or university they attend.
Winning submissions, photos, and portions of submitted videos may be featured on Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys’ website, social media channels, or other promotional materials. Scholarship recipients and, when applicable, their parents or legal guardians will be required to provide the necessary consent.
Technology is changing the way we drive, and the law will have to change with it.
We want to hear what you think should come next.
