It was not until he sought guidance from his uncle -- who was a lawyer at the time -- that he embarked on his legal career.
His uncle took him under his wing, not only acting as Lin's academic guide but also providing free board to Lin for several years.
Lin graduated from the law department of National Taiwan University, and then passed the national examination for judges in 1986. Two years later, after completing his training at the Judges and Prosecutors Training Institute, Lin finally became a judge.
He served in several district courts in central Taiwan before requesting a transfer to his home county to be close to his mother and to help those in the village where he grew up.
Judicial Yuan President Weng Yueh-sheng (翁岳生), Lin's teacher at university, said that as well as establishing a reputation as a diligent and honest judge, Lin had also contributed a great deal to legal reform.
Dubbed "the Red Guard in the judiciary," a group of reform-minded judges of which Lin is a part have sought to make the judiciary more efficient, improve the quality of judgments and bolster the credibility of judges.
Lin has turned down several times the chance to be a presiding judge, which largely involves administrative affairs, saying "his passion still lies in lawsuits."
The judge has tried to keep out of the media's spotlight since his unconventional verdict caught the public's attention.
"I don't want to become a newsmaker, because judges might loose their credibility if they are tempted by fame or money," said Lin, who declined to have his photograph taken.
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