There shall be a town solicitor and one or more assistant solicitors as may be deemed necessary, within the limits of appropriated funds, all of whom shall be appointed by the mayor to serve at the pleasure of the mayor. (Res. #72, 9-13-1982; G.E. 11-2-1982)
The town solicitor shall be an attorney-at-law in good standing who has been admitted to the practice of law in this state at least four years prior to his appointment, the assistant town solicitors shall be attorneys-at-law in good standing who have been admitted to the practice of law in this state. Residence in the Town of Johnston shall not be required of either the town solicitor or the assistant town solicitors. (Res. #72, 9-13-1982; G.E. 11-2-1982)
The town solicitor and the assistant town solicitors shall receive such salary as shall be set by the town council by ordinance. Neither the town solicitor nor the assistant town solicitors need be required to devote full time to the performance of their duties. (Res. #72, 9-13-1982; G.E. 11-2-1982)
The town solicitor shall be the attorney for the town and legal advisor to the mayor, town council, and all other departments, offices and agencies of the town government and shall direct the work of the assistant solicitors. It shall be the duty of the town solicitor to:
(1) 
Appear for and protect the rights of the town in all actions, suits and proceedings, civil or criminal, in law or equity, brought by or against it or for or against any of its departments, including the board of canvassers and registration;
(2) 
Examine and make recommendations in the form of all ordinances and resolutions and the form of all initiations for bids, contracts and other documents sent out by any department, office or agency of the town;
(3) 
Perform such other duties appropriate to his office as the provisions of this Charter, the Mayor and/or the town council may require. (Res. #72, 9-13-1982; G.E. 11-2-1982)
All written legal opinions furnished to the mayor, the town council and all departments, offices and agencies of the town shall be filed with the town clerk and become a public record.
The statement in this Charter of duties of the town solicitor shall not be deemed to abridge such special powers and duties as are now and hereafter conferred upon town solicitors by law; however, no department or agency shall employ any other attorney at the expense of the town or through the use of any funds from the federal government or other source, unless otherwise provided by this Charter, or unless the town council shall approve such employment by ordinance. Any such attorney so authorized by the town council shall be subordinate to the town solicitor and in all litigation to which the town may be a party, said attorney shall be under the direction of the town solicitor. (Res. #72, 9-13-1982; G.E. 11-2-1982)