Exhibit 5.1

                               Venture Law Group
                           A Professional Corporation
                              4750 Carillon Point
                              Kirkland, WA  98033

                                  May 1, 2001


Metawave Communications Corporation
10735 Willows Road NE
Redmond, WA  98052


     Registration Statement on Form S-3
     -----------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be filed by you
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about May 1, 2001 (the
"Registration Statement") in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933 of shares of your common stock (the "Shares"), to be sold
by certain stockholders listed in the Registration Statement (the "Selling
Stockholders").  As your legal counsel in connection with this transaction, we
have examined the proceedings taken and are familiar with the proceedings
proposed to be taken by you in connection with the sale of the Shares.

     It is our opinion that the Shares, when sold by the selling stockholders in
the manner described in the Registration Statement, will be legally and validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever it appears in the
Registration Statement and in any amendment to it.

                                       Sincerely,

                                       VENTURE LAW GROUP
                                       A Professional Corporation

                                       /s/ VENTURE LAW GROUP

MJH