[1] Prior to entering politics, McClelland was an Associate to Justice Phillip Evatt of the Federal Court of Australia 1981–82 before becoming a solicitor and ultimately partner with law firm Turner Freeman.

After McClelland indicated on 8 October 2007 his party's disapproval of death sentences for all south Asian countries, his leader Kevin Rudd criticised the speech as "insensitive" because it was made on the eve of the anniversary of the Bali bombings.

[6] As Attorney-General McClelland introduced the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Torture Prohibition and Death Penalty Abolition) Act 2010.

[10] McClelland was criticised by Greens Senator Bob Brown, who said it was displaying the ugly face of Labor conservatism.

[12] McClelland has said those protesting against Australian Christian Lobby would not have recognised that the ACL had supported amendments to 84 pieces of Commonwealth legislation that removed discrimination against same-sex couples.

[17] In the 2010 federal election, McClelland was re-elected to the seat of Barton, but suffered an 8.08% swing against the Labor Party.

As part of a cabinet reshuffle in December 2011 he was moved to oversee the portfolio of emergency management and housing.