 Ferraro began working as an elementary school teacher in public schools in Astoria , Queens , " because that 's what women were supposed to do . " Unsatisfied , she decided to attend law school ; an admissions officer said to her , " I hope you 're serious , Gerry . You 're taking a man 's place , you know . " She earned a Juris Doctor degree with honors from Fordham University School of Law in 1960 , going to classes at night while continuing to work as a second @-@ grade teacher at schools such as P.S. 57 during the day . Ferraro was one of only two women in her graduating class of 179 . She was admitted to the bar of New York State in March 1961 . 
