after passing the bar exam on his fourth attempt, wilson began his practice as a criminal defense attorney in san diego, but he found such work to be low-paying and personally repugnant. he later commented to the "los angeles times", "i realized i couldn't be a criminal defense lawyer – because most of the people who do come to you are guilty." wilson switched to a more conventional law practice and continued his activity in local politics, working for barry goldwater's unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1964. wilson's liking for politics and managing the day-to-day details of the political process was growing. he put in long hours for the goldwater campaign, earning the friendship of local republican boosters so necessary for a political career, and in 1966, at the age of thirty-three, he ran for, and won a seat in the california state assembly, succeeding clair burgener.