§ 84. General attorney. There shall be a general attorney of the state
fund. He shall have such legal and other assistants as may be required,
within the limits set forth in the budget.

It shall be the duty of the general attorney to advise the
commissioners and the management of the fund upon all matters of law
arising in connection with any contract or policy of insurance issued by
the fund, and upon any claim or award of compensation. He shall appear
as the attorney of record in all suits and other proceedings to which
the state fund or the commissioners thereof are parties. He shall
conduct all appeals on behalf of employers insured in the fund and on
behalf of the fund itself, except where there is a divergence of
interest between the employer and the fund, in which case he shall
appear on behalf of the fund alone. He shall prosecute all claims
against third parties under the subrogated rights of the state fund, in
accordance with the provisions of section twenty-nine of this chapter.
He shall have the right, subject to the approval of the commissioners,
to employ special counsel in matters involving special difficulty, and
to provide for the payment of their compensation and expenses out of the
state fund.