Upon graduating from the University of Alabama School of Law, Philip joined a small firm and engaged in the practice of law for 15 years with a focus on litigation before being elected as Presiding Circuit Judge in Lawrence County, Alabama in 1988. He served as Presiding Circuit Judge for 20 years, during which time he was elected as a member of the Alabama Circuit Judges Association Board of Directors and served as President of the Alabama Circuit Judges Association. As a Presiding Circuit Judge, Philip presided over more than 25,000 cases including over 500 jury trials.

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Upon retiring from the bench in 2009, Philip began practicing as a registered mediator with the State of Alabama. He has since mediated civil, domestic and appellate cases, involving partnerships, corporations, construction claims, real estate disputes, estate and will contests, products liability, personal injury, workers' compensation, original divorce actions, petitions for modifications, and contempt. 

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Philip also worked for the Chancellor of The University of Alabama System from 2012 until 2016 as Executive Assistant, Director of Special Programs and Deputy General Counsel. He is presently serving as an adjunct professor in the University of Alabama Honors College and has previously served as a Visiting Lecturer in Law at the University of Alabama School of Law.