EXHIBIT 5


               [Letterhead of Keating, Muething & Klekamp, P.L.L.]


                                 April 27, 1998





The Standard Register Company
600 Albany Street
Dayton, Ohio   45401

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                     RE: Registration Statement on Form S-8

     We serve as counsel to The Standard  Register Company (the  "Company").  In
connection  with this opinion,  we have examined and are familiar with originals
or copies,  certified  or  otherwise  identified  to our  satisfaction,  of such
documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions
set forth below including (i) the Registration Statement on Form S-8 relating to
the Company's Deferred  Compensation Plan and Management Incentive  Compensation
Plan (the "Plans"),  (ii) the Articles of Incorporation  and Code of Regulations
of the Company, each as amended to the date hereof, and (iii) resolutions of the
Board of  Directors  of the  Company  relating  to the  approval  of the  Plans,
issuance of shares of Common  Stock  pursuant to the Plans and the filing of the
Registration Statement.

     Based upon and subject to the foregoing,  we are of the opinion that,  when
the  Registration  Statement has become  effective  under the  Securities Act of
1933:

    (i)   the obligations  under the Plans will, when arising under the Plans in
          accordance with its terms, constitute valid and binding obligations of
          the Company;

    (ii)  when the shares of Common Stock have been issued or purchased  for use
          by the Plans, such shares of Common Stock will constitute duly issued,
          fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock of the Company;

    (iii) the  Company is a duly  organized  and  validly  existing  corporation
          under the laws of the State of Ohio; and

    (iv)  the Company has taken all necessary and required  corporate actions in
          connection with the Plans.






     We  hereby  consent  to the  reference  to  our  firm  in the  Registration
Statement. In providing this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within
the  category  of persons  whose  consent  is  required  under  Section 7 of the
Securities  Act  of  1933  or  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Commission
promulgated thereunder.

                                          Yours truly,

                                          KEATING, MUETHING & KLEKAMP, P.L.L.



                                          By:  Gary P. Kreider
                                             ---------------------------------
                                                     Gary P. Kreider