Exhibit 5.1

                Opinion of General Counsel Robert T. Schendel

                              December 6, 2002

 Michael E. Henry
 Chief Executive Officer
 Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.
 663 Highway 60
 Monett, MO  65708

 Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

 Gentleman:

      I have acted  as General Counsel  to Jack Henry  & Associates, Inc.,  a
 Delaware corporation (the   "Company"), in connection with  the filing of  a
 Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the  "Registration Statement"), with the
 Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "Commission")  for the purposes  of
 registering under the Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the  "Securities
 Act"), 9,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock (the "Common  Shares")
 issuable under the Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan (the
 Plan").

      In connection therewith, I have examined originals, or copies certified
 or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of those documents, corporate or
 other records,  certificates and  other papers  that I  deemed necessary  to
 examine  for  purposes  of  this  opinion.  I  have  also  relied,   without
 investigation as to the accuracy thereof, on oral and written communications
 from officers of the Company.

      Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set forth in
 this letter,  I  am  of the  opinion  that  the Common  Shares  are  validly
 authorized and, when (a) the pertinent provisions of the Securities Act  and
 all relevant  state securities  laws have  been complied  with and  (b)  the
 Common Shares have been delivered  against payment therefor as  contemplated
 by the  Plan, the  Common Shares  will  be legally  issued, fully  paid  and
 non-assessable.

      I hereby consent to the  filing of this   opinion as an exhibit to  the
 Registration Statement, and further consent to  the use of my name  wherever
 appearing  in the Registration Statement.

                          Very truly yours,

                          /s/Robert T. Schendel

                          ROBERT T. SCHENDEL
                          General Counsel
                          Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.