(A) Prior to the creation of the office of Director of Law, the Legal Advisor shall be engaged by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council by a majority vote of the members of Council pursuant to a contract with an individual attorney or law firm. The person or firm serving as Village Solicitor under the village statutory plan of government on the effective date of this Charter shall continue until other arrangements are made by: execution of a contract with any attorney or law firm upon the expiration of any existing contract; or the creation of a Department of Law, pursuant to Division (B) of this Section, to be headed by a Director appointed by the Mayor.
(B) Upon the creation of a Law Department, by ordinance or resolution passed by Council, the Mayor shall appoint a Director of Law with the approval of the Council by a majority vote of the Council. The Law Director shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and who may be removed, without cause, by the Mayor.
(C) The Director of Law or any attorney engaged by the Council, need not be an elector or resident of the Municipality, but shall be an attorney-at-law duly authorized to practice law in the State of Ohio.
(D) The Director of Law or the attorney or law firm engaged, shall be the legal advisor, prosecuting attorney and counsel for the Municipality, and subject to the direction of Council, shall represent the Municipality in all proceedings in Court or before any administrative board or body. The Director of Law or the attorney or law firm engaged 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 as required by this Charter, by ordinance or resolution, or as directed by the Mayor.
(E) The Council may provide for assistants and special counsel to the Director of Law or the attorney or law firm engaged. All assistants shall be appointed by the Mayor. The assistants shall be responsible to the Director of Law or the attorney or law firm engaged and when authorized, by the Mayor, 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.
(F) In the event of a vacancy in the office of Director of Law, if such office has been created by the Council, a successor shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. The Mayor shall designate a qualified person to serve as Acting Director of Law in the case of the temporary absence or disability of the Director of Law or any other attorney engaged by the Council prior to the creation of the Department of Law.