N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-300.5: Regulations for providing defense counsel.

The Governor may issue regulations for the defense of employees or former employees of the State pursuant to this Article through one or more of the following methods as may be appropriate to the employee or class of employees in question:

(1) By the Attorney General;

(2) By employing other counsel for this purpose as provided in G.S. 147-17;

(3) By authorizing the purchase of insurance which requires that the insurer provide or underwrite the cost of the defense; or

(4) By authorizing defense by counsel assigned to or employed by the department, agency, board, commission, institution, bureau, or authority which employed the person requesting the defense. (1967, c. 1092, s. 1.)