Exhibit 5.1

                 [Letterhead of Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C.]





                               December 11, 2001


Torchmark Corporation
2001 Third Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as special counsel to Torchmark Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") (the "Registration Statement")
filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") with respect to the registration under the Act, of  $30,000,000
aggregate principal amount of the Company's unsecured senior debt securities
(the "Debt Securities") to be issued pursuant to an Indenture dated February 1,
1987, as supplemented, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee
(as amended and supplemented, the "Indenture").

     This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item
601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.

     In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Registration
Statement; (ii) the Indenture; (iii) the form of the Supplemental  Indenture
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; (iv) the Restated Certificate
of Incorporation, as amended (the "Certificate of Incorporation") and the Bylaws
(the "Bylaws") of the Company as currently in effect; and (v) certain
resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the
Registration Statement and the transactions contemplated by the Registration
Statement  and related matters (the "Board Resolutions").  We have also examined
originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of
such other documents, certificates and records as we have deemed necessary or
appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.

     In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural
persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all
documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the
authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.  In making our
examination of documents executed by parties other than the Company, we have
assumed that such parties had the power,


corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and
have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or
other, and execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and the
validity and binding effect thereof on such parties.

     As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that we have not
independently established or verified, we have relied upon oral or written
statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the
Company.

     We do not express any opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than
the laws of the State of Alabama, the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
"DGCL") and the federal laws of the United States of America.

     Based upon and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and
assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that, with respect to the
Debt Securities, when (i) the Supplemental Indenture relating to the Debt
Securities has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, as
qualified to act under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; (ii) the Supplemental
Indenture relating to the Debt Securities has been duly executed and delivered
by the Company; and (iii) the Debt Securities have been duly executed and
authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and duly delivered
to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration
therefor, the issuance and sale of the Debt Securities will have been duly
authorized, and the Debt Securities will be valid and binding obligations of the
Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that (x)
enforcement thereof may be limited by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or similar laws now or
hereinafter in effect relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally, (2) general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (3)
requirements that a claim with respect to any Debt Securities denominated other
than in United States dollars (or a judgment denominated other than in United
States dollars in respect of such claim) be converted into United States dollars
at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law
and (4) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of
payments outside the United States or in foreign currency or composite currency
and (y) any waiver with respect to usury laws.

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     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby
admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C.


                                    By: /s/Gregory S. Curran
                                        --------------------
                                         Gregory S. Curran


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