EXHIBIT 5.1


                                 April 29, 2002


INTER-TEL, INCORPORATED
1615 South 52nd Street
Tempe, AZ 85281


     RE: REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     In connection with the  registration  under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Securities  Act")  pursuant  to a  Registration  Statement  of  Form  S-8  (the
"Registration  Statement") of 500,000 shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock,  of
Inter-Tel,  Incorporated,  an Arizona  corporation  (the  "Company"),  under the
Company's  1997 Employee  Stock  Purchase Plan (the "1997 ESPP"),  I, as General
Counsel of the Company, have examined the Registration Statement, such corporate
records,  certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as I have
considered  necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.  Upon the
basis of such  examination,  I advise you that,  in my opinion,  when issued and
sold in the manner  described  in the 1997 ESPP and  pursuant to the  agreements
which  accompany  each grant under the 1997 ESPP, the Shares will be legally and
validly issued, fully paid and assessable.

     The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the state of Arizona, and I
am expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

     I do hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion  as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.


                                   Sincerely,


                                   /s/ John L. Gardner
                                   -------------------------------
                                   John L. Gardner
                                   General Counsel