In 1871, the first meeting of lawyers from across Kentucky was held in Louisville and created a voluntary association.
In 1934 the Kentucky General Assembly passed an act creating an all-inclusive bar association which authorized the Court of Appeals (now Supreme Court) to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations defining the practice of law and to establish a code of professional responsibility to govern the discipline of members of the Bar.
The KBA governing body is its Board of Governors, an agent of the Court for the purpose of administering and enforcing the Rules.
In 1984 KBA developed its Kentucky Law Update program, enabling members the opportunity to meet the annual Continuing Legal Education requirement with no registration fee.
The final section, the Young Lawyers Division, is open to all KBA members who are under 40 as of the start of the membership year (which begins on 1 July), and also to members who have been admitted to the bar for 10 years or less (also measured as of 1 July) regardless of age.