Creative Conversations: Legal Advice for Creative Artists

Published Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Eva Wood

Southwest Minnesota State University invites students, faculty, and community members to a special Creative Conversations event on Thursday, November 6 at 4:30 p.m. in Charter Hall 222. The session on“Legal Advice for Creative Artists: When Law and Art Collide?” presented by St. Paul-based attorney Eva Wood, who will share essential legal insights for future working artists.

This interactive presentation will explore critical topics such as plagiarism, defamation, slander, copyright law, and other legal considerations that impact creative professionals. Attendees will learn practical strategies to protect their work and avoid legal pitfalls in publishing and production.

“How can you avoid getting sued for something you’ve written or made?” Join us to find out.

Eva Wood is a Staff Attorney with Education Minnesota, representing educators statewide in matters involving employment rights, discrimination, workplace investigations, and contract enforcement. Since joining Education Minnesota in 2019, she has developed and led trainings on disability and leave laws, workplace accommodations, employee discipline, and student rights. Eva has authored guidance on the Family and Medical Leave Act, ADA compliance, and workplace equity issues.

A 2010 graduate of the University of Minnesota–Morris, Eva earned degrees in Sociology, English, and Multicultural Studies with honors and distinction before completing her Juris Doctor at UCLA School of Law on a full-tuition Regents’ Scholarship. Her career includes advocacy for undocumented immigrants, homeless LGBTQ youth, and survivors of domestic violence, as well as leadership roles in anti-violence programs and statewide training initiatives.

Eva lives in Saint Paul with her spouse, 5-year-old twins, two dogs, and two cats.

For information on the Creative Conversations series, connect with Jessie.Hennen@SMSU.edu. Jessie is the Director of the Creative Writing program at SMSU.