McDermott, Will & Emery



                                  June 6, 2003



Westell Technologies, Inc.
750 North Commons Drive
Aurora, Illinois  60504

Re:  Westell Technologies, Inc. Non-Qualified Stock Options Pursuant To
     Individual Stock Option Agreements (the "Agreements")
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Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Westell Technologies, Inc. (the "Company")
in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") for the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of shares of the Company's Class A Common
Stock, $0.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), which may be purchased pursuant to
the Agreements.

         We have examined or considered:

                  1. A copy of the Company's Restated Certificate of
         Incorporation.

                  2. The By-Laws of the Company.

                  3. Telephonic confirmation of the Secretary of State of
         Delaware, as of a recent date, as to the good standing of the Company
         in that state.

                  4. A copy of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of
         Directors of the Company relating to the Agreements.

         We have examined such documents as we have considered necessary and
have conferred with various officers of the Company and have ascertained or
verified, to our satisfaction, such additional facts as we deemed necessary or
appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

         Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that all legal and
corporate proceedings necessary for the authorization, issuance and delivery of
the shares of Class A Common Stock under the Agreements have been duly taken,



and the related Class A Common Stock, upon issuance pursuant to the terms of the
Agreements will be duly authorized, legally and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

         We hereby consent to all references to our Firm in the Registration
Statement and to the filing of this opinion by the Company as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we
come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                            Very truly yours,



                                            /s/ McDermott, Will & Emery