EXHIBIT 5

                        [Jenkens & Gilchrist letterhead]

                                 March 19, 2002




Swift Energy Company
Suite 400
16825 Northchase Drive
Houston, Texas 77060

Re:       Opinion as to Legality of Organization and Certain Securities of Swift
          Energy Company

Gentlemen:

          We have acted as counsel to Swift Energy Company,  a Texas corporation
(the "Company"), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),  for resale under the  Securities Act
220,000  shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock,  par value $.01 per share (the
"Shares").  The  terms  and  conditions  of such  offering  are  described  in a
prospectus (the "Prospectus"), contained in a Registration Statement on Form S-3
(the  "Registration   Statement"),   filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission (the "Commission").

          We have examined the  Prospectus  and the  Registration  Statement and
such other records, documents,  opinions, and instruments as in our judgment are
necessary or appropriate to enable us to render this opinion.  In conducting our
examination,  we have  assumed  the  genuineness  of all  signatures,  the legal
capacity of all individual signatories,  the accuracy of all documents submitted
to us as originals and the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to
us as copies. In addition, we have assumed and without independent investigation
have relied upon the factual  accuracy of the  representations,  warranties  and
other  information  contained in the items we examined.  We have made such legal
and factual determinations as we have deemed relevant.

          Based  upon  the   foregoing,   and  having   regard  for  such  legal
considerations  as we deem  relevant,  we are of the opinion that the Shares are
duly authorized and validly issued,  fully paid and nonassessable  securities of
the Company.

          We hereby  consent to the filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to reference being made to our firm under the caption
"Legal Opinion" in the Prospectus. We also consent to the filing of this opinion
with state  securities  officials in  connection  with the  registration  of the
Shares under applicable state securities laws. In giving this consent, this firm
does not thereby  admit that it comes into the category of persons whose consent
is required under Section 7 of the  Securities Act or the rules and  regulations
of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

          We express no  opinion as to the laws of any  jurisdiction  other than
the State of Texas and the federal laws of the United States of America.

          The opinions  expressed  herein are given as of the date hereof and we
undertake no obligations to supplement this letter if any applicable law changes
after  such  date or if we become  aware of any  facts  that  might  change  the
opinions expressed herein after such date or for any other reason.

                                    Sincerely yours,

                                    JENKENS & GILCHRIST,
                                    A Professional Corporation



                                    By: /s/ Judy G. Gechman
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Judy G. Gechman
                                        Authorized Signatory on
                                        Behalf of the Corporation