Exhibit 5.1



                 [Kronish Lieb Weiner & Hellman LLP Letterhead]

                                                             March 19, 2003

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc.
500 Hanover Pike
Hampstead, Maryland 21074

Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration, pursuant to a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") by the Company
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of 400,000 shares of
the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), to be
offered for sale by the Company from time to time pursuant to the Company's
Incentive Plan adopted in June 2002 (the "Plan").

         We have examined the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws, as amended, and minute books and such other documents and records as
we have deemed necessary and relevant as a basis for our opinions hereinafter
set forth. For the purposes of this letter, we have assumed the genuineness of
all signatures and the conformity to original documents of all instruments
furnished to us for review or examination as copies.

         Based on the foregoing and having regard to such legal considerations
as we have deemed relevant, it is our opinion that:

         (a) The Company is a corporation duly organized under the laws of the
State of Delaware.

         (b) The Common Stock covered by the Registration Statement has been
validly authorized.

         (c) When (i) the Common Stock has been duly registered under the Act,
(ii) certificates for the Common Stock have been duly delivered, and (iii) the
Company has received the consideration to be received by it pursuant to and upon
exercise of the related options awarded under the Plan, the Common Stock will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable by the Company, with no personal
liability attaching to ownership thereof.

         We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion in the Registration
Statement and to the references to this firm contained therein.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       /s/ Kronish Lieb Weiner & Hellman LLP

                                       KRONISH LIEB WEINER & HELLMAN LLP