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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1




                                November 26, 1997


Capitol Bancorp Ltd.
200 Washington Square North
Lansing, Michigan 48933
Attention:  Board of Directors

Capitol Trust I
c/o Capitol Bancorp Ltd.
200 Washington Square North
Lansing, Michigan 48933
Attention:  Administrative Trustees

Directors and Trustees:

     We have acted as special counsel to Capitol Bancorp Ltd., a Michigan
corporation (the "Company"), and Capitol Trust I, a Delaware statutory business
trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the preparation of a Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed by the Company
and the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for the
purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, preferred
securities (the "Preferred Securities") of the Trust's subordinated debentures
(the "Subordinated Debentures") of the Company and the guarantee of the Company
with respect to the Preferred Securities (the
"Guarantee").

     In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies, 
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the certificate
of trust (the "Certificate of Trust") filed by the Trust with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware on November 25, 1997; (ii) the Trust Agreement,
dated as of November 25, 1997, with respect to the Trust; (iii) the form of the
Amended and Restated Trust Agreement with respect to the Trust; (iv) the form
of the Preferred Securities of the Trust; (v) the form of the Guarantee between
the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee; (vi) the form
of the Subordinated Debentures; and (vii) the form of the indenture (the
"Indenture"), between the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago, as
trustee, in each case in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.  We have also examined originals or copies, certified, or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction, of such other documents, certificates, and
records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions
set forth herein.
        

     In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural 
persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all
documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of
such copies.  In
        

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examining documents executed by parties other than the Company or the Trust, we
have assumed that such parties had the power, corporate or otherwise, to enter
into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due
authorization by all requisite action, corporate or otherwise, and execution
and delivery by such parties of such documents and that, except as set forth in
paragraphs (1) and (2) below, such documents constitute valid and binding
obligations of such parties.  In addition, we have assumed that the Amended and
Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, the Preferred Securities of the Trust,
the Guarantee, the Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture, when executed,
will be executed in substantially the form reviewed by us.  As to any facts
material to the opinions expressed herein which were not independently
established or verified, we have relied upon oral or written statements and
representations of officers, trustees, and other representatives of the
Company, the Trust, and others.
        
     We are members of the bar of the state of Michigan, and we express no
opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.

     Based upon and subject to the foregoing and to other qualifications and 
limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

     1.    After the Indenture has been duly executed and delivered, the 
Subordinated Debentures, when duly executed, delivered, authenticated and
issued in accordance with the Indenture and delivered and paid for as
contemplated by the Registration Statement, will be valid and binding
obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and
enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except to the
extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to creditors' rights generally, and (ii) general principles of equity
regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity.
        
     2.    The Guarantee, when duly executed and delivered by the parties 
thereto, will be a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that
enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to creditors' rights generally, and (ii) general principles of equity
regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity.
        
     We hereby consent to the reference to us under the caption "Validity of 
Securities" in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement and
to the inclusion of this legal opinion as an Exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
        



                                        Very truly yours,   
                                                            
                                        /s/ STROBL & BORDA, P.C.