EXHIBIT 5.1

                                PATTON BOGGS LLP
                                2550 M Street, NW
                              Washington, DC 20037




                               September 27, 2004



Washington Federal, Inc.
425 Pike Street
Seattle, Washington 98101


                     Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

            We have acted as counsel to Washington Federal, Inc., a Washington
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") of a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Registration Statement relates to
400,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $1.00 par value per share (the
"Shares"), which are to be issued pursuant to the Washington Federal Savings
Profit Sharing Retirement Plan and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "Plan").

            In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon
copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of: (i) the Plan;
(ii) an executed copy of the Registration Statement; (iii) the Company's
Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws; and (iv) the minute books and
other records of corporate proceedings of the Company, as made available to us
by officers of the Company, and have reviewed such matters of law as we have
deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of rendering this opinion.

            For purposes of this opinion we have assumed the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all
documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the
authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We
have also assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of
all signatures on all documents examined by us, the authority of such persons
signing on behalf of the parties thereto 'other than the Company and the due
authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto
other than the Company. As to certain factual matters material to the opinion
expressed herein, we have relied to the extent we deemed proper upon
representations, warranties


                                      E-1

Washington Federal, Inc.
September 27, 2004
Page 2


and statements of officers and other representatives of the Company. Our opinion
expressed below is subject to the qualification that we express no opinion as to
any law of any jurisdiction other than the corporation laws of the State of
Washington and the federal laws of the United States of America. Without
limiting the foregoing, we express no opinion with respect to the applicability
thereto or effect of municipal laws or the rules, regulations or orders of any
municipal agencies within any such state.

            Based upon and subject to the foregoing qualifications, assumptions
and limitations and the further limitations set forth below, it is our opinion
that the Shares to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Plan have been duly
authorized and reserved for issuance and, when certificates for the Shares have
been duly executed by the Company, countersigned by a transfer agent, duly
registered by a registrar for the Shares and issued and paid for in accordance
with the terms of the Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.

            This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and
no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. We
assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the present
corporation laws of the State of Washington or the federal laws of the United
States of America be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or
otherwise.

            We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we are in
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder.

            This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of
the Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or
otherwise relied upon for any other purpose.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    /s/ Patton Boggs LLP
                                    ------------------------------
                                    PATTON BOGGS LLP


                                      E-2