1.  Appointment.  Each district attorney shall appoint assistant district attorneys, one or more of whom may be full-time, to serve at the district attorney's will. The district attorney shall designate whether each assistant district attorney will serve full-time or part-time when appointed.  

2.  Duties.  The assistants shall take the oath prescribed for district attorneys and assist the district attorney in the ordinary duties of that office, in the drawing of indictments, in the hearing of complaints before the grand juries and in the preparation and trial of criminal causes. They, when directed by the district attorney, shall act as counsel for the State in the trial of complaints before Judges of the District Court and Justices of the Superior Court and in the prosecution of appeals before the Supreme Judicial Court.  

3.  Compensation.  The compensation of deputy and assistant district attorneys shall be fixed by the district attorney, subject to the approval of the Attorney General and the Governor. For purposes of compensation and benefits, deputy and assistant district attorneys shall be treated comparably to assistant attorneys general.  

4.  Deputy district attorney.  Each district attorney may designate one full-time assistant district attorney or, if there is no full-time assistant district attorney, one part-time assistant district attorney to be the deputy district attorney. In the absence of the district attorney, the deputy shall act in the district attorney's place and has the authority, duties and responsibilities of the district attorney.  

5.  Staff.  Each district attorney shall be allowed sufficient sums to ensure an adequate staff of assistants to screen, process and investigate complaints, to assist law enforcement agencies, to conduct trials in the District and Superior Courts, to prosecute appeals in the Supreme Judicial Court and to carry out all other duties and responsibilities.  

6.  Allowance for compensation.