The National Association of Bar Executives (NABE) was founded in 1941 to serve the staff of bar associations and law-related organizations. NABE's vision is to "unite and inspire bar executives in promotion of excellence in bar association management." (NABE Strategic Plan, November 1997) The association fulfills its mission of promoting and supporting excellence and professionalism among bar executives through educational programming and activities that support their effective fulfillment of members' job responsibilities.

NABE is an independent not-for-profit organization. It was incorporated in Illinois in May, 1990. NABE is an affiliate of the American Bar Association and has received administrative services through the ABA since 1953. These services are provided through the Division for Bar Services (DBS) and were formalized in 1983.

Since its founding NABE has had individual members. However, until 1987 it was considered an association of organizations since dues were assessed on the bar association and each bar association had one vote, regardless of the number of members from that association. A bylaw revision in 1987 implemented the current system of individual membership dues and one-member, one-vote was established.