(a)      The Attorney General is legal advisor to the Department.

      (b)      The Attorney General shall assign to the Department the number of assistant Attorneys General authorized by law to be assigned to the Department and any additional ones, as provided in the budget, necessary to give effective legal advice and counsel. The Attorney General also shall designate an assistant Attorney General as counsel to the Department.

      (c)      The counsel to the Department may have no duty other than to give the legal aid, advice, and counsel required by the Secretary and any other official of the Department, to supervise the other assistant Attorneys General assigned to the Department, and to perform for the Department the duties that the Attorney General assigns. The counsel shall perform these duties subject to the control and supervision of the Attorney General. After the Attorney General designates the counsel to the Department, the Attorney General may not reassign the counsel without consulting the Secretary.