[Adopted by Bill No. 78-3[2]]
A.Â
The Department of Law shall be administered by the
County Attorney. At the time of his appointment, he shall have been
a member in good standing of the Bar of Maryland Court of Appeals
for at least five (5) years. Prior to assuming the duties of his office,
he shall be domiciled in the county.
B.Â
The County Attorney shall be the chief legal officer
of the Executive Branch in all matters and shall be responsible for
all the legal affairs of the Executive Branch. Except as otherwise
provided in state law or the Charter, no agency of the county government
which receives county funds shall have any authority or power to employ
or retain any legal counsel other than the County Attorney.
C.Â
The County Executive may, with the approval of the
Council, employ special legal counsel to work on problems of an extraordinary
nature when the work to be done is of such character or magnitude
as to require services in addition to those regularly provided by
the Department of Law.
D.Â
Neither the County Attorney nor any assistant in the
Department of Law may, at any time while holding such office, practice
as an attorney before the Council or any agency of the county government
other than to represent the county's interests.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Section 224 of the
Harford County Charter.