1



                                                                   EXHIBIT 5.1




                          April 1, 1997


Aspect Telecommunications Corporation
1730 Fox Drive
San Jose, CA  95131-2312

         REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by
you with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about April 1, 1997
(the "Registration Statement") in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of a total of 2,000,000 shares of your
Common Stock (the "Shares") reserved for issuance under the 1996 Employee Stock
Option Plan, as amended (the "Option Plan").  As your legal counsel, we have
examined the proceedings taken and are familiar with the proceedings proposed
to be taken by you in connection with the sale and issuance of the Shares under
the Option Plan.

         It is our opinion that, when issued and sold in the manner referred to
in the Option Plan and pursuant to the respective agreement which accompanies
each grant under the Option Plan, the Shares will be legally and validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever it
appears in the Registration Statement and any amendments to it.



                                       Sincerely,


                                       VENTURE LAW GROUP
                                       A Professional Corporation


                                       /s/  VENTURE LAW GROUP