Burnside began his legal career practicing law at the law firm File Payne Scherer & Brown in Beckley, West Virginia from 1977 until 1988. He was elected to the Tenth Judicial Circuit in 1988 to fill an unexpired term.[5] Burnside was re-elected in the primary election on May 10, 2016.[6] Burnside was also re-elected in 1992, 2000 and 2008.[5] Burnside served as the chief judge of the Tenth judicial district during 2008.[7]