She teaches legal journalism at Columbia College. She is currently a columnist at the Chicago Journal and a contributing editor at Shore magazine. She is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Chicago Bar Association. In the past, McGrath has been a columnist for the Chicago Tribune and a contributing writer for the Chicago Reader. In addition to the Chicago Headline Club board, she is currently on the boards of the John Howard Association, South Loop Neighbors, Dearborn Park Advisory Council and the Chicago Homes of Dearborn Park. She spent nine years as the treasurer of the Association for Women Journalists. She is also a docent at the Glessner House and the Clarke House–two house museums on the near south side.