His paternal grandfather, lawyer Walter Só Jobim, has been active in politics in Rio Grande do Sul since the 1920s and, in 1947, he was governor of the state.

[10][11][12] He attended the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre from 1964 to 1968, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Social and Legal Sciences.

He was chairman of the sub-section of the Order of Attorneys of Brazil in Santa Maria from 1977 to 1978, and was vice president of the Rio Grande do Sul section of the Brazilian Bar Association from 1985 to 1986.

[13] During this time, he became the leader of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) and chaired the Commission on Constitution and Justice and the Editorial Board of Deputies in 1989.

Jobim lobbied for the decriminalization of the use of marijuana, saying: "The drug user must be helped and not persecuted as a criminal; and also was responsible for the demarcation of Indian lands.

After, he was appointed to the post of Minister of the Federal Supreme Court, on 7 April 1997, and took office on the 15th, filling the vacancy caused by the retirement of Francisco Rezek.

[22] Jobim continued to be part of the Board of Directors in addition to being responsible for Institutional Relations and Compliance Policies.