Mr Ogg was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1989, having previously been a solicitor in private practice for a number of years. He took silk in 1999. His appointment covers the planned departure of Sean Murphy QC.

Derek Ogg QC, whose practice is invariably as defence counsel in serious criminal trials, mainly murder, in the High Court of Justiciary, has been appointed as a senior advocate depute within the Crown Office. He is a human rights activist and describes himself as an inveterate, incurable civil libertarian.