If a county counselor is appointed, the county counselor shall in person, or by assistant, at the election of the county commission or governing body, attend such sittings of the county commission and give advice on all legal questions that may arise during the session of the commission or governing body as the county commission or governing body, and the county counselor shall assist the county commission or governing body in all such matters that may be referred to the county counselor. The county counselor may, with the approval of the county commission or governing body, employ such office personnel as are necessary in the discharge of the county counselor’s official duties and such employees and assistants shall hold their positions at the pleasure of the county counselor and shall be paid monthly by the county commission or governing body out of the county treasury. The county counselor may, with the approval of the county commission or governing body, appoint such assistants as are necessary in the conduct of the county counselor’s office, who shall receive as compensation such salary as is fixed by the county counselor and approved by the county commission or governing body.