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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                  [Letterhead of Bodman, Longley & Dahling LLP]

                                April 9, 1998

Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc.
26600 Telegraph Road, Suite 300
Southfield, Michigan 48034

Dear Sirs:

     You   have  requested  our  opinion  in    connection with  a  Registration
Statement on Form S-8 to be  filed by  Meadowbrook  Insurance  Group,  Inc. (the
"Company")   with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  for  registration
pursuant to  the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended, of (a) 1,919,067 shares of
Company  Common  Stock,  par  value  $.01,  to be  issued in connection with the
Meadowbrook Insurance Group,  Inc.  1995  Stock  Option  Plan (the  "Plan"), and
(b)  8,433 shares of Company Common  Stock, par value $.01, offered by Warren D.
Gardner.

     As  counsel  for  the  Company  we are familiar with the Plan, and with the
corporate  proceedings  relating thereto.  Based thereon, it is our opinion that
the shares of Company Common Stock, par value $.01 registered for purchase under
the Plan,  upon the issuance and delivery of such shares in accordance  with and
pursuant  to the terms of the  Plan,  will be  legally  issued,  fully  paid and
non-assessable,  provided,  in the case of original  issue  shares,  the Company
receives as consideration an amount at least equal to the par value thereof.  We
 are further of the opinion that the 8,433 shares of Company  Common  Stock, par
value $.01, offered by Warren  D.  Gardner will, upon sale thereof in the manner
contemplated by the Registration  Statement,  be  legally issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.  

     We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal
Matters" and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. 

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            BODMAN, LONGLEY & DAHLING LLP

                                           /s/ Barbara Bowman Bluford

                                           By: Barbara Bowman Bluford, a partner