(a) All assistant attorneys general, deputy assistant attorneys general, and law assistants shall be appointed by the Attorney General for such periods of time as he deems advisable. The compensation of all assistant attorneys general, deputy assistant attorneys general, law assistants, and other employees of the Department of Law shall be established by the Attorney General, except that those employees under the merit system shall be compensated according to the laws and rules and regulations of said system. Any assistant attorney general, deputy assistant attorney general, law assistant, or other employee not under the merit system may be removed by the Attorney General.

(b) The term "assistant attorney general," wherever it may appear in the laws of this state, shall be understood to include the term "deputy attorney general" so that a deputy attorney general, when duly appointed by the Attorney General, may perform any duty otherwise prescribed by law or regulation to be performed by an assistant attorney general.