The recent cut of Penn State's legal consultant position may be replaced by resources from Penn State Dickinson School of Law, which transferred to University Park this semester, Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said.

In the past, the university provided a legal consultant, free of charge, to students.

Kendig told the Daily Collegian Wednesday that eliminating the position "was a personnel decision based on cost cuts."

However, the cut would not entirely leave students without free counsel options on campus, he said.

"The law school is certainly going to be a huge resource," he said.

Philip McConnaughay, dean of the Penn State Dickinson School of Law, said the school plans to explore the possibility of establishing a variety of law clinics at University Park, including a clinic to meet student needs. He indicated that he would attempt to discuss the matter with Vicky Triponey, vice president of student affairs.

"It's certainly something we're exploring, because it's not unusual for second- and third-year students to participate in clinics in part designed to serve the general student population," McConnaughay said.

Until recently, Jose Texidor was the legal consultant at University Park. He said he had worked within a contract system, which was renewed every 10 months. This time, the student affairs office chose not to renew his contract.

During his time as the school's free consultant through the Student Legal Assistance program, Texidor, who is also a senior crime, law and justice lecturer, said he assisted between 700 to 1,000 students a year.

McConnaughay said though he has minimal knowledge of the cases Texidor handled, he thinks the idea of the law school assuming the responsibility for such a large body of work is "impractical," but did offer enthusiasm about the possibility of the law school operating in a similar capacity.

"There could be a direct connection between what we do and what this service traditionally provided," he said.

The Dickinson School of Law offers a number of law clinics at its home site in Carlisle, covering disciplines ranging from the elderly to sports and entertainment to political asylum.

While a lot of the discrepancies brought to Texidor's attention concerned landlord and tenant relations, he said he handled many "interesting" cases in his time as legal consultant.

Texidor said some of the cases he was consulted about included incidents in which graduate students were sexually harassed by Penn State professors. Texidor said he also helped to exonerate a graduate student facing sexual harassment charges.

However, his role as consultant meant he only advised his clients on legal matters, such as how to properly build a case for themselves.

More than 75 percent of the students to whom he gave advice were then able to defend themselves in court situations, commonly at the district magistrate level or in Judicial Affairs, he said.

Dickinson students, who receive credit for their work at the clinics in Carlisle, will go as far as to represent their clients in court if needed.

McConnaughay refused to speculate as to how clinics serving the student body at University Park would operate, but did say requirements for students giving legal counsel include close supervision from educators and practicing lawyers.

"We're both providing a service for our clients and benefiting our students as well," McConnaughay said. "It's a positive thing."