1

                                                                     Exhibit 5.1


                 [Letterhead of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal]


                                                   May 8, 2001


Emergent Group Inc.
375 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10152

    Re: Registration Statement on Form S-4 Under the Securities Act of 1933

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     In our capacity as counsel to Emergent Group Inc., a Nevada corporation
(the "Company"), we have been asked to render this opinion in connection with
the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of a Registration Statement on Form S-4
(the "Registration Statement"). The Registration Statement relates to the
issuance of up to 9,537,595 shares of the Company's common stock in connection
with the Company's acquisition of Medical Resources Management, Inc. ("MRM"),
pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger, dated
as of January 23, 2001, between the Company and MRM (the "Merger Agreement").

     In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies of
(a) the Registration Statement, (b) the Articles of Incorporation, as amended,
of the Company, (c) the By-Laws of the Company and (d) resolutions adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Company. In such examination, we have assumed the
accuracy and completeness of all documents and records that we have reviewed,
the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of the documents submitted
to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all
documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, or reproduced copies. Based
upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that the common stock has been duly
authorized by all requisite corporate action, and upon issuance and delivery
thereof pursuant to the Merger Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid,
and non-assessable.

     We hereby consent to use of our name under the heading "Legal Matters" in
the joint proxy statement/prospectus forming a part of the Registration
Statement and to use of this opinion for filing as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.



                                            Very truly yours,


                                            SONNENSCHEIN NATH & ROSENTHAL


                                            By:  /s/ Ira Roxland
                                                 A Member of the Firm