1. The director of the Missouri department of transportation, with the consent of the highways and transportation commission, shall select and fix the salary of a chief counsel who shall possess the same qualifications as judges of the supreme court and who shall serve at the pleasure of the director and shall appear for and represent the commission in all actions and proceedings under chapters 226 and 227, or any other law administered by the commission, or in any decision, order or proceeding of the commission, or of the director and shall commence, prosecute or defend all actions or proceedings authorized or requested by the commission or to which the commission is a party and shall advise the commission or the director, when requested, in all matters in connection with the organization, powers and duties of the commission or the powers and duties of the director.

2. The chief counsel shall, with the consent of the director, appoint such assistant attorneys as the director may deem necessary and their salaries shall be fixed by the director. The chief counsel’s office shall be furnished offices in the department of transportation building.

3. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to conflict with the duties of the chief counsel as established in subsection 1 of this section. The chief counsel, or assistant attorneys designated by the chief counsel, shall render legal opinions and advise the commission and director on any matter required by the commission or the director. The commission, or an individual commissioner or commissioners, may request legal opinions or advice from the chief counsel pursuant to subsection 1 of this section and the chief counsel or an assistant attorney designated by the chief counsel shall provide such opinion or advice directly to the commission or individual commissioners making the request.