[COMPANY LOGO] JAECKLE FLEISCHMANN & MUGEL, LLP ATTORNEYS AT LAW FLEET BANK BUILDING TWELVE FOUNTAIN PLAZA BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14202-2292 TEL (716) 856-0600 FAX (716) 856-0432 Exhibit 5 March 18, 2003 Parkway Properties, Inc. One Jackson Place Suite 1000 188 East Capitol Street Jackson, Mississippi 39201 Re: Issuance and Sale of 600,000 shares of common stock (the "Securities") pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement among Parkway Properties, Inc. (the "Company"), Parkway Properties, LP and Wachovia Securities, Inc. Ladies and Gentlemen: As your counsel we have examined the Underwriting Agreement, the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-48161), including pre-effective amendment no. 1 thereto (the "Registration Statement") and the Company's Prospectus Supplement dated March 18, 2003 with respect to the Securities and we are familiar with the documents referred to therein and incorporated therein by reference. We have also examined the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Bylaws, as amended, such records of proceedings of the Company as we deemed material, and such other proceedings of the Company as we deemed necessary for the purpose of this opinion. We have examined the proceedings heretofore taken and we are informed as to the procedures proposed to be followed by the Company in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities. In our opinion the Securities to be issued by the Company will be, when issued and paid for pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement, duly authorized for issuance by all necessary corporate action and, upon the issuance thereof in accordance with their terms, the Securities will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable. We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K and to all references to our firm in the Prospectus Supplement. Very truly yours, /s/ JAECKLE FLEISCHMANN & MUGEL, LLP Buffalo, New York Amherst, New York Rochester, New York