EXHIBIT 5.1

                                 April 17, 2003

INTER-TEL INCORPORATED
1615 South 52nd Street
Tempe, AZ 85281

     Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     In connection with the  registration  under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Securities  Act")  pursuant  to a  Registration  Statement  of  Form  S-8  (the
"Registration  Statement") of 622,725 shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock,  of
Inter-Tel,  Incorporated,  an Arizona  corporation  (the  "Company"),  under the
Company's 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "1997 Plan"), I, as General Counsel
of the  Company,  have  examined  the  Registration  Statement,  such  corporate
records,  certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as I have
considered  necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.  Upon the
basis of such  examination,  I advise you that,  in my opinion,  when issued and
sold in the manner  described in the Plans and pursuant to the agreements  which
accompany  each grant  under the Plans,  the Shares  will be legally and validly
issued, fully paid and assessable.

     The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the state of Arizona, and I
am expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

     I do hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion  as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.


                                        Sincerely,

                                        /s/ John L. Gardner
                                        -------------------------------
                                        John L. Gardner
                                        General Counsel