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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                                  March 1, 2001


American Physicians Capital, Inc.
1301 North Hagadorn Road
East Lansing, Michigan 48832



Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have served as counsel to American Physicians Capital, Inc. (the
"Company") in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") to be filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect
to the issuance in the manner described in the Registration Statement of
1,200,000 shares of its common stock, without par value (the "Common Stock"),
pursuant to the Company's Stock Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

         In acting as counsel for the Company, we have examined the proceedings
taken in connection with the issuance pursuant to the Plan, and we have examined
and relied upon the originals or copies, certified or otherwise, identified to
our satisfaction, of such corporate records, documents, certificates and other
instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to
render the opinions expressed below.

         Based upon such examination and our participation in the preparation of
the Registration Statement, it is our opinion that (1) the Company is duly
incorporated and validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of Michigan and (2) the shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under
the Plan, when issued in the manner described in the Registration Statement and
the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not concede that we are
experts within the meaning of the Securities Act or the rules or regulations
thereunder or that this consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act.


                                            Very truly yours,

                                            DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC

                                            /s/ Mark A. Metz
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Mark A. Metz,
                                            A Member of the Firm