EXHIBIT 5(a)

December 30, 2004

Wellman, Inc.
595 Shrewsbury Avenue
Shrewsbury, New Jersey 07702

      Re:   Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as legal counsel to Wellman, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), with respect to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
December 30, 2004 for the purpose of registering for resale under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), up to: (a) 4,502,143 shares of
the Company's Series A Preferred Stock, $.001 par value (the "Series A Preferred
Stock"); (b) 6,700,000 shares of the Company's Series B Preferred Stock, $.001
par value (the "Series B Preferred Stock" and, together with the Series A
Preferred Stock, the "Preferred Stock"); (c) 34,640,342 shares (the "Underlying
Shares") of the Company's Common Stock, $.001 par value (the "Common Stock")
issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock; (d) warrants to purchase
2,500,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Warrants"); and (e) the 2,500,000 shares
(the "Warrant Shares") of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.
The Preferred Stock and the Warrants were issued in transactions exempt from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act on February 12, 2003 and on June
27, 2003.

We have assumed (i) that all signatures on documents examined by us are genuine;
(ii) the completeness and authenticity of all documents and records submitted to
us as originals; (iii) the conformity to original documents of all documents and
records submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies, and the
authenticity of the originals of such exhibits or copies; and (iv) the legal
capacity of all natural persons executing the documents examined by us.

The opinions hereinafter expressed are qualified to the extent that (i) the
enforceability of any right or remedy may be subject to or affected by any
bankruptcy, liquidation, arrangement, avoidance, reorganization, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, homestead or other similar laws relating to
or affecting the rights of creditors generally, whether the issue of
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law; and (ii) the
enforceability of any right or remedy may be subject to general principles of
equity including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness,
good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforceability is considered
in a proceeding in equity or in law) and to the discretion of the court before
which proceedings thereof may be brought.

We are qualified to practice law in the State of New York, and we express no
opinion herein as to any matter governed by any law other than the law of the
State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the
Federal laws of the United States.


Based on our review of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company,
as amended, the By-Laws of the Company, as amended, the Warrants, and such other
documents and records as we have deemed necessary and appropriate, and subject
to the qualifications, limitations, assumptions and exceptions set forth herein,
we are of the opinion (a) that the Preferred Stock has been validly issued, and
is fully paid and nonassessable; (b) that the Warrants constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms; (c) that the Underlying Shares, if and when issued
upon conversion of and in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Stock, will
be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; and (d) that the Warrant
Shares, if and when issued and paid for in accordance with the Warrants, will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We understand that this letter is to be used in connection with the Registration
Statement, as finally amended, and hereby consent to the filing of this letter
with and as a part of the Registration Statement as so amended, and to the
reference to our firm in the prospectus which is a part of the Registration
Statement under the heading "Legal Matters." In giving such consent, we do not
hereby admit that we are included within the category of persons whose consent
is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

It is understood that this letter is to be used in connection with the resale of
the Preferred Stock, the Underlying Shares, the Warrants or the Warrant Shares
only while the Registration Statement is effective as so amended and as it may
be amended from time to time as contemplated by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/  Edwards & Angell, LLP

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