The McGrath & Co Group started life in April 1981 under the title of Ault McGrath & Co, when Graham McGrath left the Handsworth Law Centre, where he had been the Senior Solicitor for the previous two years, to set up in practice with his then partner Tony Ault in a small set of offices at 11 Albert Street. Graham at that time was also a Labour Member of the Birmingham City Council.

McGrath & Co's policy and philosophy from the outset was to provide legal services to the least advantaged sections of society and to use the Public Funding Scheme to ensure that those clients for which the firm was set up for were thereby enabled to protect and enforce their rights.

The firm has always been in effect a Law Centre in terms of the type of case work it involves itself in and has always had a general policy of not wishing to expand its areas of operation to provide legal services to the better off members of society. The McGrath Group do not have a large number of commercial clients and do not in general act on behalf of limited companies as opposed to individuals.

The firm will always be prepared to take a stand on behalf of society's victims and in particular the victims of racism.

The McGrath Group currently comprises of 4 independent firms, each having their own designated partners and specialisms.

• McGrath & Co - Specialising in Criminal Defence and publicly funded housing cases. It is specially approved by the Legal Services Commission to provide help with criminal cases and housing cases. Also provides administrative services to other firms within the group.

• McGrath Civil Litigation Partnership - Specialisng in claims for compensation mostly arising from accidents that have caused personal injury, and arising from housing disrepair. Also compensation claims against the police. This firm does not offer any assistance by way of public funding but offers either “no win no fee” agreements or after the event legal expenses insurance.

  
  
• McGrath Immigration Solicitors - Specialising in British Immigration and Nationality law. This firm does not offer any assistance by way of public funding. All work is dealt with on a private paying basis.

• McGrath Environmental Partnership - Specialising in prosecuting landlords who let tenants live in conditions potentially dangerous to their health and using the Magistrates' Court to force landlords to carry out repairs to property. This firm does not offer any assistance by way of public funding. All cases are dealt with under a “no win no fee” agreement.