(A) Except as provided in Section 12.03 of this Charter, the Department of Law shall be under the supervision, direction and control of the Director of Law, who shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by a majority vote of the Council and shall serve at the pleasure of the Council.
(B) The Director of Law need not be an elector or resident of the City, but shall be an attorney-at-law duly authorized to practice law in the State of Ohio. The Director of Law shall not hold any other incompatible public office, under the laws of Ohio, except he or she may hold office in a political party or be a delegate to a political party convention, serve as a notary public, serve as a member or officer in the military reserve or national guard, serve in any office, position or capacity to further intergovernmental cooperation, and may hold any office permitted by this Charter, the ordinances or resolutions of the City or the laws of Ohio.
(C) The Director of Law shall be the legal advisor, and counsel for the City, and subject to the direction of Council, shall represent the City in all proceedings in Court or before any administrative board or body. The Director of Law shall perform all other powers, duties and functions now or hereafter imposed on Directors of Law under the laws of Ohio, and shall perform other duties that are legal in nature as required by this Charter, by ordinance or resolution, or as directed by the Mayor or City Manager.
(D) The Council may provide for assistants and special counsel to the Director of Law. All assistants shall be appointed by the Director of Law. The assistants shall be responsible to the Director of Law and when authorized, may exercise all or any part of the powers, duties and functions granted to the Director of Law under this Section. Special counsel may be employed by Council to perform powers, duties and functions authorized by and in the manner provided by Council.
(E) In the event of a vacancy in the office of Director of Law, a successor shall be appointed in the same manner as provided in Division (A) of this Section in the case of an original appointment. The Director of Law shall designate, by a writing filed with the Clerk of Council, a qualified person to serve as Acting Director of Law in the event of his or her temporary absence or disability and, in the event of a vacancy, until the vacancy is filled as provided in this Division. The Acting Director of Law shall exercise the powers, duties and functions of the Director of Law under this Charter.
(Amended by electorate on 8-4-20)