After completing his law degree at the University of Pretoria in 1960, Galgut was admitted as an advocate and practised as a member of the Pretoria Bar. He was accorded senior advocate status in 1979 and remained in practice, doing mostly civil work, until appointed as a judge in the Natal Provincial Division of the High Court in 1985.[2]
In 2001 he was appointed as Deputy Judge President of the Division, and for three months in each of 2001 and 2004 served as the Acting Judge President.[1] In 2004, having served for 20 years, Galgut elected to go off active service as a judge.[2]
He has subsequently served as arbitrator in various civil claims, and in May 2007 was appointed as the Ombudsman for Long-term Insurance, a post he held until May 2013.[3] Since 2014 he has served as Internal Arbitrator at Santam Limited.
