He undertook his apprenticeship as a solicitor at East Kilbride Town Council between 1968 - 1970, before moving into practice with Ballantyne and Copland in Motherwell, rising to become a partner. In 1983, he left to begin devilling, and in 1984 was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates, gaining Queen's Counsel status in 1993. From 1990 to 1996, he served as an Advocate Depute, and in 1996 served as Senior Counsel to the Dunblane Inquiry.