Exhibit 5

                        OPINION OF PEPPER HAMILTON LLP

                                April 27, 1998


Covalent Group, Inc.
One Glenhardie Corporate Center
1275 Drummers Lane, Suite 100
Wayne, Pennsylvania  19087

Gentlemen:

               We have acted as special counsel to Covalent Group, Inc., a
Nevada corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") of a
registration statement (the "Registration Statement") of the Company on Form S-3
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). The Registration
Statement relates to the proposed offer and sale by a certain selling
stockholder of the Company (the "Selling Stockholder") of up to 55,000
outstanding shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock, par value $.001
per share (the "Common Stock").

               In connection with this opinion, we have examined the
Registration Statement, including the exhibits thereto, the original or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Articles of
Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Company, amended to date, resolutions of the
Company's Board of Directors and such other documents and corporate records
relating to the Company and the original issuance of the Shares to the Selling
Stockholder as we have deemed appropriate. In edition, we have made such
investigation of the Nevada General Corporation Law statute (the "Nevada GCL")
as we have considered appropriate for the purpose of rendering the opinions
expressed herein. This opinion is limited to the Nevada GCL.

               On the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

               We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption
"Legal Matters" in the Registration Statement and to the filing of this opinion
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We do not admit that such consent
constitutes a consent under Section 7 of the Act, since we have not certified
any part of such Registration Statement and do not otherwise come within the
categories of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or
the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.


                                    Very truly yours,

                                    PEPPER HAMILTON LLP


                                     /s/ Jeffrey P. Libson
                                    --------------------------------
                                    A Partner