The Circuit Solicitor for the Ninth Judicial Circuit may appoint seven competent attorneys, each of whom are residents of the circuit, as his assistants who shall perform any and all of the duties and functions now or hereafter imposed by law upon the circuit solicitor as the solicitor of the circuit shall authorize, designate and direct. The assistant circuit solicitors shall be designated in their appointment as first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth assistants for Charleston County and assistant circuit solicitor for Berkeley County. The first and second assistants shall enter upon their duties upon the approval of the majority of the Charleston County Legislative Delegation. The first assistant shall receive such compensation for his services as may be provided by law and the second assistant such compensation as may be provided by law to be paid by the County of Charleston. The third assistant shall receive such compensation for his services as may be provided by law, such compensation to be paid from federal funds or from funds appropriated by the Governing Body of Charleston County. The fourth assistant shall devote full time to his duties as assistant solicitor and shall receive such compensation for his services as may be provided by law to be paid from funds appropriated by the Governing Body of Charleston County. The fifth assistant shall receive such compensation for his services as may be provided by law to be paid from funds appropriated by the Governing Body of Charleston County. The sixth assistant shall devote full time to his duties as assistant solicitor and shall receive such compensation for his services as may be provided by law to be paid from funds appropriated by the Governing Body of Charleston County or from federal funds made available to the Governing Body of Charleston County for such purpose. The assistant circuit solicitor for Berkeley County shall enter upon his duties upon the approval of the majority of the Berkeley County Legislative Delegation and shall receive such compensation for his services as may be provided by law to be paid by the County of Berkeley.