Exhibit 5.1

 December 22, 2004


 Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.
 663 West Highway 60
 Monett, Missouri  65708-0807

 Ladies and Gentlemen:

 I have acted as General Counsel to Jack Henry & Associates, Inc., a Delaware
 corporation  (the  "Corporation"),  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"), 117,726 shares of the Corporation's common stock, par value $0.01 per
 share (the  "Common  Stock")  issuable  pursuant to  the  (i)  Stock  Option
 agreement dated  February 14,  2003 assumed  pursuant to  the Assumption  of
 Options between the Corporation and  Optinfo, Inc. dated November  23, 2004;
 and (ii) Stock Option Agreement dated  July 1, 2003 assumed pursuant  to the
 Assumption of  Options  between  the Corporation  and  Optinfo,  Inc.  dated
 November 23,  2004 (together,  the "Option  Agreements").   Such  shares  of
 Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Option Agreements are  herein referred
 to as "the Shares."

 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 the  accuracy thereof, on  oral and written  communications
 from officers of the Corporation.

 Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set forth in this
 letter, I am of the opinion that the Shares have been validly authorized and
 will be, when issued and delivered pursuant to the Option  Agreements, 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, Esq.

 Robert T. Schendel, Esq.