Exhibit 5.1

                         Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP
                              Counsellors at Law
                                Exchange Place
                            Boston, MA 02109-2881
                                (617) 570-1000

                               October 11, 1996


Stocker & Yale, Inc.
32 Hampshire Road
Salem, New Hampshire 0379

      Re:   Legality of Securities to be Registered Under
            Registration Statement on Form SB-2
            File No. 333-10655
            ----------------------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      This opinion is furnished in connection with the filing of a Registration
Statement on Form SB-2, File No. 333-10655 (the "Registration Statement"),
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of
750,000 shares (the "Shares") of common stock, par value $.001 per share (the
"Common Stock"), of Stocker & Yale, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, (the
"Company"), that are being registered by the Company for its account.

      In connection with rendering this opinion, we have examined the Articles
of Organization of the Company, as amended and restated to the date hereof and
on file with the Massachusetts Secretary of State; the By-laws of the Company;
such records of the corporate proceedings of the Company as we deem appropriate
for the purposes of this opinion; the Registration Statement and the exhibits
thereto.

      We are attorneys admitted to practice in The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. We express no opinion concerning the laws of any jurisdictions
other than the federal laws of the United States of America and the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

      Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that when and as the
Shares have been issued and paid for, such Shares will be duly authorized,
validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable.

      The foregoing assumes that all requisite steps will be taken to comply
with the requirements of the Securities Act and applicable requirements of state
laws regulating the offer and sale of securities.






Securities and Exchange Commission
October 11, 1996
Page 2


      We hereby consent to being named as counsel to the Company in the
Registration Statement, to the references therein to our firm under the caption
"Legal Matters" and to the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.


                                          Very truly yours,

                                          /s/ Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP

                                          GOODWIN, PROCTER & HOAR  LLP