The chief of the legal division shall confer with and advise the Director of Finance and any and all of the subordinate officers and employees of the Department of Finance on all legal matters pertaining to said department. He shall furnish either verbal or written opinions, when requested by the Director of Finance, on legal questions pertaining to said department, but such opinions shall not have the force and effect of official opinions of the Attorney General unless approved by the Attorney General. He shall appear for the state in all litigation, both civil and criminal, affecting the Department of Finance, when authorized to do so by the Director of Finance and the Attorney General.