EXHIBIT 5.1
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                    [Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP Letterhead]



June 10, 2004


HemaCare Corporation
21101 Oxnard Street
Woodland Hills, California  91367

                  Re:   Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            We  have  acted  as  special  counsel  to  HemaCare  Corporation,  a
California  corporation (the "Company"),  in connection with the registration on
Form S-8 (the  "Registration  Statement")  under the  Securities Act of 1933, as
amended,  of 1,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock issuable pursuant to
the  Company's  2004 Stock  Purchase  Plan (the  "Plan").  This opinion is being
furnished in  accordance  with the  requirements  of Item 8 of Form S-8 and Item
601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K.

            We have reviewed the Company's  charter  documents and the corporate
proceedings taken by the Company with respect to the establishment and amendment
of the Plan.  With  respect to the  foregoing  documents,  we have  assumed  the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us
as originals and the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as
certified or reproduced  copies.  We also have obtained from the officers of the
Company  certificates as to certain factual matters necessary for the purpose of
this opinion and,  insofar as this opinion is based on such matters of fact,  we
have relied on such certificates without independent investigation.

            Based on such review,  we are of the opinion  that,  if, as and when
the  shares  of the  Company's  Common  Stock  are  issued  and  sold  (and  the
consideration  therefor  received and appropriate  stock  certificates  therefor
executed and delivered) pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, such shares will
be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

            We consent to the filing of this  opinion  letter as Exhibit  5.1 to
the Registration Statement.

            We express no opinion as to matters  governed by any laws other than
the  California  General  Corporation  Law,  the  applicable  provisions  of the
California   Constitution  and  reported  decisions  of  the  California  courts
interpreting these laws.

            We express no opinion on  securities  issued  pursuant  to any other
registration statement of the Company.










Page Two

            This opinion  letter is rendered as of the date first  written above
and we disclaim any obligation to advise you of facts, circumstances,  events or
developments  which  hereafter  may be  brought to our  attention  and which may
alter,  affect or modify the opinion expressed herein.  Our opinion is expressly
limited to the  matters  set forth  above and we render no  opinion,  whether by
implication or otherwise,  as to any other matters relating to the Company,  the
Plan, or the shares of the Company's Common Stock issuable under the Plan.

                                         Respectfully submitted,

                                    /s/  Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

                              Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP