LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC
S-8 POS, EX-5.1, 2000-10-06
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIOTELEPHONE)
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                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.1




                         [LETTERHEAD OF JEAN F. RANKIN]






October 5, 2000

Lucent Technologies Inc.
600 Mountain Avenue
Murray Hill, NJ 07974

Ladies and Gentlemen:

With reference to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-8 to the
registration statement on Form S-4 which Lucent Technologies Inc. (the
"Company") proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, registering 3,327,437
common shares, par value $.01 per share (including an equal number of Preferred
Share Purchase Rights that initially trade with the common shares), of the
Company (the "Shares") which may be offered and sold by the Company under the
Spring Tide Networks, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), I am of the
opinion that all proper corporate proceedings have been taken so that any Shares
to be offered and sold which are of original issuance, upon sale and payment
therefor in accordance with the Plans and the resolutions of the Board of
Directors relating to the offering and sale of common shares thereunder, will be
legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC in connection with
the registration statement referred to above.


                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ Jean F. Rankin

                                            Jean F. Rankin






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