EXHIBIT 5.1
                               Counsellors at Law
                           HUTCHINS, WHEELER & DITTMAR
                           A Professional Corporation

                 101 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                 Telephone 617-951-6600 Facsimile: 617-951-1295



                                                          January 10, 1997



CRA Managed Care, Inc.
312 Union Wharf
Boston, MA  02109

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have acted as counsel to CRA  Managed  Care,  Inc.,  a  Massachusetts
corporation  (the  "Company"),  in connection  with  proceedings  being taken to
register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of up to 97,070 shares of
the  Company's  Common  Stock,  $.01 par value per share  (the  "Common  Stock")
pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement").
Of the Common  Stock  being  registered  all of the shares are being  offered by
certain selling stockholders (the "Selling Stockholders").

        As such counsel,  we have examined (i) certain  corporate records of the
Company, including its Articles of Organization,  its By-laws, stock records and
records  of  the  meetings  of  its   Incorporator,   Board  of  Directors   and
Stockholders;  (ii) a  Certificate  of the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of
Massachusetts  as to the legal  existence of the  Company;  and (iii) such other
documents as we have deemed  necessary  as a basis for the opinions  hereinafter
expressed.

        Based   upon  the   foregoing,   and   having   regard  for  such  legal
considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

        1.      The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly
                existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

        2.      The Company is authorized to issue 40,000,000 shares of
                Common Stock, par value $.01 per share.

        3.      When sold under  circumstances  contemplated in the Registration
                Statement,  the  97,070  shares of Common  Stock  offered by the
                Selling  Stockholders  will be duly authorized,  validly issued,
                fully paid and nonassessable.




CRA Managed Care, Inc.
January 10, 1997
Page 2

       We hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion  as an Exhibit to the
Registration  Statement  and to the  references  to us under the caption  "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement.

                                Very truly yours,

                               /S/ HUTCHINS, WHEELER & DITTMAR
                               HUTCHINS, WHEELER & DITTMAR
                               A Professional Corporation

JW/AJH