Final answer:
Ralph Waldo Emerson was a prominent American essayist, lecturer, and poet known for leading the transcendentalist movement. He served as a minister and was known for his writing, but he never worked as a lawyer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803-April 27, 1882) is widely recognized for his influence as an American essayist, lecturer, and poet who spearheaded the transcendentalist movement in the mid-19th century. Having graduated from Harvard Divinity School in the 1820s, Emerson started his career by following in his father's footsteps and became a Unitarian minister. However, after the passing of his wife in 1831, he chose to step down from his ministerial duties. Emerson's contributions are notably through his writing, where he published essays and gave more than 1,500 public lectures. His first essay, 'Nature', which was published in 1836, along with his address, 'The American Scholar', laid the foundation for his transcendentalist philosophy.
In contrast to his notable accomplishments, working as a lawyer was not one of Emerson's life experiences. While he was involved in various professions and activities related to education, writing, and religion, law was not among them. Therefore, the correct answer is that Emerson did not work as a lawyer.