 He earned his bachelor's degree at the University of the Philippines, Diliman and three graduate degrees - Master of Public Administration, Master of Laws, and Doctor of Laws at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Rene Cayetano was a founding partner of the Cayetano, Sebastian, Dado and Cruz Law Office, chairman of the House of Delegates and governor of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and, with Juan Ponce Enrile, co-founder of the Pecabar (Ponce Enrile Cayetano Bautista & Reyes) Law Offices.Cayetano was active in private law practice, handling many sensational cases pro bono.He acted as private prosecutor in the Pepsi Paloma rape case, Manila Filmfest Scandal on behalf of Mayor Alfredo Lim, co-defense counsel for Luis Beltran in the libel case filed against him by former President Corazon Aquino.