When the TBA was accredited in 1947, it had only 34 members. Today, the TBA membership has increased to nearly 2,800 persons, comprising some 70% of the 4,100 practicing lawyers in Taiwan.

     The TBA had initially adopted a presidential system when it was founded by re-forming the Advocates Union. In 1948, the TBA was required by the KMT government to convert to the rule of rotation among managing directors. On April 8, 1990, the TBA re-converted its governance system back to the presidential system according to the Civil Organizations Law. Since then, the TBA has been headed by a president selected from among the Board of Directors (numbering around 40 in total), who are directly elected by the entire membership every three years.

     The TBA has established a secretariat subject to the Board of Directors, whose secretary-general and chief officers are TBA members appointed by the Board to supervise the daily administrative affairs performed by the TBA full-time staff. In addition, the TBA has created a number of functional committees under the Board of Directors.