(a) In a hearing before the board or in a suit in which the board is a party, the board may appoint the board's staff attorney as an attorney of record for the board, except that the staff attorney is subordinate to a county attorney, district attorney, or attorney general if one of those attorneys is also an attorney of record in the proceeding.
(b) In a suit in which the board is a party, the board may appoint the staff attorney as special assistant to the county attorney, district attorney, or attorney general. The board must pay the staff attorney.
(c) This section does not limit or exclude the right of the county attorney, district attorney, or attorney general to appear as the board's attorney in the court to which that attorney is entitled or required under the constitution to represent the state.