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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1




                         [VENTURE LAW GROUP LETTERHEAD]




                                  April 9, 1998



Business Resource Group
2150 North First Street
Suite 101
San Jose, CA  95131

        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 9, 1998 (the
"Registration Statement") in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 500,000 additional shares of your Common
Stock (the "Shares") reserved for issuance under the 1995 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 agreements which accompany
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