1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                  [SHUGHART THOMSON & KILROY, P.C. LETTERHEAD]


                                AUGUST    , 2000



Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.
663 Highway 60
Monett, MO  65708

     Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Jack Henry & Associate, Inc.,
          a Delaware corporation (the "Company")

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on July 14, 2000 (as such
may be further amended or supplemented, the "Registration Statement"), in
connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1993, as amended
(the "Act"), of 5,750,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company (the
"Shares").  The Shares, which include up to 750,000 shares of Common Stock
issuable pursuant to an over-allotment option granted to the underwriters (the
"Underwriters"), are to be sold to the Underwriters as described in such
Registration Statement for the sale to the public or issued to the
representatives of the Underwriters.  As your counsel in connection with this
transaction, we have examined the proceedings proposed to be taken by you in
connection with said sale and registration of the Shares.

     Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that, upon the conclusion of the
issuance of the Shares and upon the completion of the proceedings taken in
order to permit such transactions to be carried out in accordance with the
securities laws of the various states where required, the Shares when issued
and sold in the manner referred to in the Registration Statement will be
legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement, including the prospectus constituting a part thereof,
which has been approved by us, as such may be further amended or supplemented,
or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement relating to the
prospectus.


                                   Very truly yours,



                                   SHUGHART THOMSON & KILROY, P.C.