Bird isn't in charge of the DPS. How many times does this need to be pointed out for you?
The relevant question is "does the AG's office assign legal counsel to provide legal guidance/opinions to DPS/DCI?"
I have on very good authority that the AG's office assigns legal counsel to assist various Departments in Iowa's government structure.
Thus, even if the AG isn't "in charge of" (your words) DPS, that doesn't answer the question of whether legal counsel under the employ of the AG's office was the "legal counsel" referenced in the press release yesterday.
I do find the timing interesting. Plumb and Boles make very public statements questioning the validity of the process. Bird interviewed and she advises that she has no reason to question what was done but that questions should be addressed to DPS/DCI. Then DCI feels "compelled" to issue a public statement that it conferred with unnamed "legal counsel" who assured them that what they were doing was just fine.
Who is the legal counsel that provided them with the opinion? Outside, private attorneys? Someone from the AG's office? Staff counsel for DPS/DCI (I don't know if they employ staff counsel)? County attorneys? Constitutional experts from GIAOT?