[LETTERHEAD OF ALSTON & BIRD LLP APPEARS HERE]

    
                              May 16, 1997      


LHS Group Inc.
Six Concourse Parkway, Suite 2700
Atlanta, Georgia 30328

     Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-1


Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to LHS Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the 
"Company"), and certain stockholders of the Company (the "Selling Stockholders")
named in Schedule II to the Underwriting Agreement referred to herein in
connection with the filing of the above-referenced Registration Statement (the
"Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), 920,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
(the "Common Stock"), for issuance and sale by the Company (the "Shares"). The
Company intends, following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, to
issue and sell the Shares to the several underwriters (the "Underwriters") named
in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") to be
entered into by and among the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the
Underwriters.
    
     We have examined originals of copies, certified or otherwise identified to 
our satisfaction, of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as 
amended, the Bylaws of the Company, records of proceedings of the Board of 
Directors, or committees thereof, and the stockholders of the Company deemed by 
us to be relevant to this opinion letter, the Registration Statement and the 
proposed form of Underwriting Agreement. We also have examined originals or 
copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such other 
corporate records of the Company, such other agreements and instruments, such 
certificates of public officials, officers of the Company, the Selling 
Stockholders and other persons, and such other documents as we have deemed
     

 
LHS Group Inc.
May 16, 1997
Page 2

necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In 
such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal 
capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity and completeness of all 
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of 
all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, photostatic or facsimile 
copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies, and we have 
assumed all certificates of public officials to have been properly given and to 
be accurate.

     As to factual matters relevant to this opinion letter, we have relied upon 
the representations and warranties as to factual matters contained in 
certificates and statements of officers of the Company and certain public 
officials. Except to the extent expressly set forth herein, we have made no 
independent investigations with regard thereto, and, accordingly, we do not 
express any opinion as to matters that might have been disclosed by independent 
verification.
    
     On the basis of the foregoing, and subject to the limitations set forth 
herein, we are of the opinion that, upon due execution and delivery of the 
Underwriting Agreement by the parties thereto and upon issuance and delivery of 
the Shares against payment therefor as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, 
the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable by the Company.
     

     Members of this firm are licensed to practice law in the State of Georgia 
and before the federal courts having jurisdiction in the State of Georgia, and 
we express no opinion with regard to any law other than the laws of the State of
Georgia and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
    
     We consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the 
Registration Statement and to any related registration statement subsequently 
filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Act and to the use of our 
name under the heading "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus constituting a part 
thereof. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the 
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the 
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
     
     This opinion letter is being furnished by us to the Company and the 
Commission solely for the benefit of the Company and the Commission in 
connection with the Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, 
quoted or otherwise relied upon

 
LHS Group Inc.
May 16, 1997
Page 3

by any other person, or by the Company or the Commission for any other purpose, 
without our express written consent.  The only opinion rendered by us consists 
of those matters set forth in the fourth paragraph hereof, and no opinion may be
implied or inferred beyond those expressly stated.  This opinion letter is 
rendered as of the date hereof, and we have no obligation to update this opinion
letter.

                                        Sincerely,

                                        ALSTON & BIRD LLP

                                        By:  /s/ M. Hill Jeffries
                                           -------------------------
                                                Partner