His parents were Gustaf Ragnar Schlyter [sv], a senior lecturer, and Augusta Elisabeth Cederberg.

[2] His grandfather was Carl Johan Schlyter who was the first professor of legal history in the law faculty of Lund University.

[1][3] Schlyter studied Romance and Nordic languages and philosophy at Lund University.

[1][5] Upon his appointment Schlyter began to involve in reform activities to radically alter the legal system of Sweden.

[7] Schlyter was the editor of a Swedish legal journal entitled Svensk Juristtidning from its start in 1916 to the late 1940s.