(1) The attorney general shall appoint the state solicitor who shall be an assistant attorney general. The person appointed state solicitor shall be an attorney-at-law in good standing and shall have been admitted to practice law in Colorado for at least five years immediately preceding the taking of office as state solicitor.

(2) The state solicitor shall be the head of the division of state solicitor general and shall provide such legal services for each state agency as may be designated by the attorney general. No state agency shall appoint or employ any person to perform legal services except in accordance with the provisions of this part 2.

(3) No assistant state solicitor may appear in any court of this state or of the United States on behalf of any state agency unless specifically authorized to so appear by the attorney general. When so authorized to appear on behalf of a state agency, any assistant shall have all the power and authority of an assistant attorney general and shall be designated as a special assistant attorney general. When acting as a special assistant attorney general, an assistant state solicitor shall not be entitled to any compensation other than compensation as an assistant state solicitor.

(4) The state solicitor may make such rules, pursuant to the provisions of section 24-4-103, as may be necessary to carry out the duties imposed upon him or her by law or by the attorney general.

(5) Upon request by the head of any department, division, commission, board, institution, or institution of higher education, the state solicitor shall assign assistant solicitors to perform legal services for the requesting agency. The requesting party may request, and the state solicitor may assign, assistant solicitors on a permanent or temporary basis to the requesting agency.

(6) Legal services performed by assistant solicitors shall be subject to the supervision of the state solicitor and shall be rendered in accordance with the legal policies of the state as determined by the attorney general.