After earning a bachelor's and master's degree in law from National Taiwan University, Lin worked as a lawyer and served as president of the China Times.

[3][4][5] During Lin's tenure on the Control Yuan, he began a long investigation into the 1992 purchase of Dassault Mirage 2000 jet fighters from France.

[9][10] Other investigations into the environment and public safety have led to censure of the Environmental Protection Administration in 2001,[11] and three other government agencies in 2002, for inadequate responses to drought conditions the island faced that year.

[12][13] In September, Lin, Lee Shen-yi, and Chao Ron-yaw censured the Executive Yuan, which was found to have sent 40 percent of Taiwan's total foreign investment to China, leading to economic recession and increasing unemployment.

[16] Later that year, Lin initiated an investigation into Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou's relationship with Fubon Financial Holding Co.[17] Lin brought Ma in for questioning again in 2004, this time over the use of public billboards in support of Taipei City Government spokesman Wu Yu-sheng's 2004 legislative bid.