The secretary of labor shall appoint a chief attorney for the department of labor, who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary. The chief attorney shall be in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act and shall receive an annual salary fixed by the secretary of labor, with the approval of the governor. The secretary of labor also may appoint additional attorneys for the department of labor. Except for those attorneys the secretary may appoint to positions in the classified service under the Kansas civil service act in order to comply with directives under any federal act, or federal administration thereof, which federal act is related to a function or duty required to be performed by the secretary, such additional attorneys shall be in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act, shall receive an annual salary fixed by the secretary of labor, with the approval of the governor, and shall be subject to assignment and reassignment of duties within the department of labor as may be determined by the chief attorney.