McColl studied at Willoughby Girls' High School.
[2] From 2001 to 2002, McColl was president of the Australian Bar Association,[1] McColl has also served as vice-president of Australian Women Lawyers (1996–99) and President of NSW Women Lawyers (1996–1997).
She has been a part-time Commissioner of the New South Wales Law Reform Commission, President of the Public Interest Law Clearing House (1999–2002), Assistant Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (1998–2000), and Counsel assisting the Coroner in relation to the inquest into the 1997 Thredbo landslide.
[1] McColl is the current president of the Judicial Conference of Australia.
[3] In 2004, McColl was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the law, to continuing professional development and education, particularly for women, and to the community in matters affecting Indigenous groups and youth.