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                                                                      EXHIBIT 5
    


                         [HALE AND DORR LLP LETTERHEAD]



   
                                November 25, 1998
    



Network Plus Corp.
234 Copeland Street
Quincy, MA 02169

Gentlemen:

         This opinion is furnished to you in connection with a Registration
Statement on Form S-4, together with Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 thereto (the
"Registration Statement"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the
registration of 40,000 shares of 13.5% Series A1 Cumulative Preferred Stock due
2009, $.01 par value per share (the "Shares"), of Network Plus Corp., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"). The Shares are to be issued pursuant to an exchange
offer made under the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated as of
September 1, 1998 among the Company, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman Brothers Inc.
and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (the "Exchange
Agreement").

         We have acted as counsel for the Company in connection with the issue
and sale by the Company of the Shares. We have examined signed copies of the
Registration Statement and all exhibits thereto, all as filed with the
Commission. We have also examined and relied upon the original or copies of
minutes of meetings of the stockholders and Board of Directors of the Company,
stock record books of the Company, a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of
the Company and a copy of the By-Laws of the Company.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have
been duly authorized and that, when issued and sold by the Company in accordance
with the terms of the Exchange Agreement, they will be validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as part of the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name therein and in the related
Prospectus under the caption "Validity of the Securities."

         It is understood that this opinion is to be used only in connection
with the offer and sale of the Shares while the Registration Statement is in
effect.

                                                  Very truly yours,

                                                  /s/ Hale and Dorr LLP

                                                  HALE AND DORR LLP