Exhibit 5.1

                               September 16, 2002

United Community Bancorp
1039 Second Street, NE
Hickory, North Carolina  28601-3843

         RE: Registration Statement

Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to United Community Bancorp (the "Company"), in
connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") to be filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
relating to the registration of up to 2,121,000 shares (the "Shares") of the
Company's common stock, $1.00 par value per share ("Common Stock"). This opinion
is furnished pursuant to the requirement of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-B
under the Act.

We have examined the Articles of Incorporation filed by the Company with the
North Carolina Secretary of State, the Bylaws of the Company, minutes of
meetings of its Board of Directors, and such other corporate records of the
Company and other documents and have made such examinations of law as we have
deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion.

Based on and subject to the foregoing and to the additional qualifications set
forth below, it is our opinion that the Shares that are being offered and sold
by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement, when issued by the
Company as contemplated by the Registration Statement, will be legally issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.

We hereby consent to the reference to our firm in the Registration Statement
under the heading "Legal Matters" and to the filing of this opinion as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement. Such consent shall not be deemed to be an
admission that this firm is within the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Act or the regulations promulgated pursuant to
the Act.

This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of North Carolina and no
opinion is expressed as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.

This opinion expressed herein does not extend to compliance with federal and
state securities law relating to the sale of the Shares.



This opinion is rendered solely for your benefit in connection with the
transaction described above and may not be used or relied upon by any other
person without prior written consent in each instance.

                                                    Very truly yours,

                                                    GAETA & ASSOCIATES, P.A.



                                                    By:  Anthony Gaeta, Jr.