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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                         STRADLING YOCCA CARLSON & RAUTH
                           A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                                ATTORNEYS AT LAW
                      660 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 1600
                      NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA 92660-6441
                            TELEPHONE (949) 725-4000
                            FACSIMILE (949) 725-4100

                              SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE
                              44 MONTGOMERY STREET,
                                   SUITE 2950
                        SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94104
                            TELEPHONE (415) 765-9180
                            FACSIMILE (415) 765-9187


                               September 21, 1998



Micro General Corporation
14711 Bentley Circle
Tustin, California  92780-7226

        RE:    Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        At your request, we have examined the form of Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") being filed by Micro General
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with the Securities and
Exchange Commission in connection with the registration under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, of an aggregate of 2,300,000 shares of the Company's common
stock, $.05 par value ("Common Stock"), issuable under the Company's 1998 Stock
Incentive Plan and 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (collectively, the
"Plans").

        We have examined the proceedings heretofore taken and are familiar with
the additional proceedings proposed to be taken by the Company in connection
with the authorization, issuance and sale of the securities referred to above.

        Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that the 2,300,000 shares of
Common Stock, when issued under the Plans and against full payment therefor in
accordance with the respective terms and conditions of the Plans, 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.


                                            Very truly yours,

                                            STRADLING YOCCA CARLSON & RAUTH