Exhibit 5.1

                                 April 28, 1994


 Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
 1000 Alfred Nobel Drive
 Hercules, California  94547

             Re:  Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Class A Common Stock,
             par value $1.00 per share

 Ladies and Gentlemen:

       I  have   examined  the   Registration  Statement   of  Form  S-8   (the
 "Registration Statement"),  which Bio-Rad  Laboratories, Inc.  (the "Company")
 intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with
 the  registration  under the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  as  amended,  of  an
 additional 130,000 shares  of Class A common stock, par  value $1.00 per share
 (the  "Shares") in connection with the Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Amended 1988
 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan").  I am familiar with the Plan.  I am
 familiar with the proceedings undertaken by the Company in connection with the
 issuance of the Shares under  the Plan and the authorization of  such issuance
 thereunder, and have  examined such  documents and such  questions of law  and
 fact as  I have deemed necessary  in order to express  the opinion hereinafter
 stated.

       Based  on the foregoing, I  am of the opinion that  the Shares have been
 duly authorized, and upon  issuance of the Shares under the  terms of the Plan
 and delivery  and payment  therefor of  legal consideration  in excess  of the
 aggregate par value of the Shares  issued, such Shares will be validly issued,
 fully paid and nonassessable.

       I hereby  consent to the  filing of this  opinion as  an exhibit to  the
 Registration Statement and to the reference to me under the heading "Interests
 of  Named Experts  and  Counsel"  contained in  Part  II  of the  Registration
 Statement.

             Very truly yours,

             /s/ Sanford S. Wadler

             Sanford S. Wadler
             General Counsel and Secretary



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