[1][2] His family is made up of important figures in Chilean politics and law, including his brothers Patricio (president, 1990–1994) and Andrés (deputy).

Aylwin studied at the Faculty of Law at the University of Chile, and qualified as a lawyer on 13 July 1953.

In April 1997, Aylwin was appointed Comptroller General by President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle,[4] a position he held until August 2002.

[5] Since that date, he was an external technical advisor on municipal and regional matters to the Legislative Commissions of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

[3] In 1992, Aylwin was invited to the celebration of Kim Il-sung's 80th birth anniversary in North Korea.