The dean of the Kansas University School of Law plans to remain the stateâÂÂs lead attorney on appeals issues.

Steve McAllister said Monday he would continue as state solicitor under Phill Kline, who was elected Kansas attorney general last month.

âÂÂI love doing it,â McAllister said. âÂÂItâÂÂs a chance to really be a lawyer, and it keeps me in some ways fresh and energized as far as current cases go. ItâÂÂs a good experience to take into the classroom.âÂÂ

McAllister began working in 1996 as a special assistant for Atty. Gen. Carla Stovall. She created the state solicitor position in 1999, the same year McAllister became dean at KU.

McAllister oversees state cases that are appealed to the Kansas Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Whitney Watson, a spokesman for Kline, confirmed the attorney general-elect planned to retain McAllister as state solicitor. Kline was at a conference in Florida and wasnâÂÂt available for comment.

Among McAllisterâÂÂs highlights as state solicitor have been preparing briefs to defend the stateâÂÂs sexual predator law and defending the stateâÂÂs policy on self-incrimination for inmates.

McAllister said the state solicitor position didnâÂÂt have much to do with politics, though both he and Kline are Republicans.

âÂÂI donâÂÂt know (Kline) that well,â McAllister said. âÂÂFor a good lawyer, it doesnâÂÂt, or shouldnâÂÂt, matter. If thereâÂÂs a state statute thatâÂÂs challenged, I defend it to the best of my ability using the case law.âÂÂ

McAllister, who also is a member of KlineâÂÂs transition team, said he told Kline he would only take the job on a part-time basis, as he did under Stovall. He said he never works more than one day a week for the attorney generalâÂÂs office.

âÂÂThe bottom line is I do it for two reasons,â he said. âÂÂFirst, I believe in the client – the people of Kansas deserve excellent representation. And second, I just enjoy it. I love the process.âÂÂ