National Chung Hsing University
Lai was born in Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County. He went to read law in the night school division of National Chung Hsing University (now National Taipei University) after graduating from Taiwan Provincial Ilan School of Agriculture and Forestry (now National Ilan University). After finishing his study in 1973, Lai proceeded to the National Taiwan University and completed a master's degree in law in 1976.