§ 3.08. Knox County Law Director.

A.

The office of County Law Director is hereby established. The Law Director shall be an attorney duly licensed to practice law in the State of Tennessee, shall devote full time to the duties of the office of Law Director and shall not engage in the private practice of law while holding the office of Law Director for Knox County except for the purpose of disposing of matters or cases for which he/she was employed as of the date of his/her election.

B.

The salary of said Law Director is hereby fixed as the same salary as is provided by law for judges of the Circuit and Chancery courts for the State of Tennessee, which salary shall not be lowered during the Law Director's term of office. The Law Director's salary shall be payable in equal monthly installments from the general funds of the County.

C.

The Law Director shall be elected by the qualified voters of Knox County at the 1992 County general election and at the County general election at which the Assessor of Property is elected and each and every four (4) years thereafter. The Knox County Law Director shall be subject to the term limits provisions of this Charter to the same extent as any Constitutional officer of Knox County Government, as that term is defined by Article VII, Section 1 of the Tennessee Constitution.

D.

It shall be the duty of the Law Director to take the oath of office prescribed for other County officials and appropriate to his/her office before entering upon the discharge of his/her duties, and thereafter to execute and administer all of the legal affairs of the County, including litigation, drafting of contracts or other documents, instruments and papers, the investigation of titles, and to advise and counsel County officials and the Commission on all legal matters affecting their respective offices. No elected or appointed officer or employee of the County shall employ any other attorney to represent the County or any officer, board, or member of the Commission unless he/she shall first be authorized and empowered to do so by resolution of the Commission. Provided, however, that the Law Director shall have authority, within the budget approved by the County Commission for this purpose, to hire outside counsel when, in the judgment of the Law Director, such is necessary for the fulfillment of his/her duties under the Section.

E.

The County shall pay all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by the Law Director in the discharge of his official duties, subject to submission of such bills, receipts, invoices, or other documents and papers as may be required by the accounting practices established for the County Government.

F.

The Law Director is hereby authorized to employ such assistants and office personnel as may be necessary for the discharge of the Law Director's duties at salaries to be set by the Commission. The Commission shall provide suitable offices, appurtenances, and conveniences for the Law Director and the use of his/her assistants and office personnel. The Commission shall also furnish the Law Director with appropriate equipment, furniture, and supplies as may be necessary in the performance of his/her duties, including an appropriate law library.

G.

If a vacancy occurs in the office of Law Director by death, resignation, removal, or disability, the vacancy shall be filled by the Commission with a person meeting the qualifications for said position, as provided in Section 3.08.A, until his/her successor is elected in the next general election and sworn; provided, however, if such vacancy occurs within sixty (60) days prior to the next general election, the person so selected by the Commission to fill the vacancy shall serve the remainder of the term of the Law Director upon the conclusion of a duly noticed public hearing during which time interested, qualified candidates will be interviewed by the Commission.

(Ref. of 8-5-04; Ref. of 8-5-10)