EXHIBIT 5.1

                                                June 6, 2000


Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
358 South Main Street
Burlington, North Carolina 27215

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am the Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Compliance
Officer and Secretary of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, and I
offer this opinion in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement
(the "Registration Statement") on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, relating to up to 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.10
per share (the "Common Stock").

I have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my
satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public
officials and other instruments as I have deemed necessary or advisable for the
purposes of this opinion.

Upon the basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the shares of Common
Stock to be sold pursuant to the Registration Statement were duly authorized by
all necessary corporate action of the Company and such shares were legally
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

I consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration
Statement.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    /s/ Bradford T. Smith, Esq.
                                    ------------------------------------------
                                    Bradford T. Smith, Esq.
                                    Executive Vice President, General Counsel,
                                    Corporate Compliance Officer and Secretary