Exhibit 5.1



                                August 21, 1998

  Astea International Inc.
  455 Business Center Drive
  Horsham, PA  19044

       Re:  Astea International Inc.
            Registration Statement on Form S-8

  Ladies and Gentlemen:

       I am the Vice President and General Counsel to Astea International Inc.,
  a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and have advised the Company in
  connection with the registration on a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
  "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for
  the offer and sale of up to 500,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
  share, of the Company (the "Shares"), issuable under the Astea International
  Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

       I have reviewed the corporate proceedings taken by the Board of Directors
  of the Company with respect to the authorization and issuance of the Shares.
  I have examined and relied upon originals or copies, certified or otherwise
  authenticated to my satisfaction, of all corporate records, documents,
  agreements or other instruments of the Company and have made all
  investigations of law and have discussed with the Company's officers all
  questions of fact that I have deemed necessary or appropriate.  I have also
  examined the Plan, the Registration Statement and the prospectus contained
  therein (the "Prospectus").

       I am an attorney admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of
  Massachusetts.  I express no opinion concerning the laws of any jurisdiction
  other than the laws of the United States, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  and the Delaware General Corporation Law.

       Based upon and subject to the foregoing, I am of the opinion that, when
  the Shares have been issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the
  Prospectus, the Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
  nonassessable.

       I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
  Registration Statement.

                                 Very truly yours,


                                 /s/ Robert G. Schwartz, Jr.

                                 ROBERT G. SCHWARTZ, JR.
                                 Vice President and General Counsel