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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1



                                 June 4, 1998



Lexington Corporate Properties Trust
355 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017

                      LEXINGTON CORPORATE PROPERTIES TRUST
                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            This opinion is delivered in our capacity as counsel to Lexington
Corporate Properties Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the
"Issuer"), in connection with the Issuer's registration statement on Form S-3
(the "Registration Statement") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the offering by the
Issuer of up to 1,829,300 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.0001
per share (the "Shares").

            In connection with this opinion, we have examined copies or
originals of such documents, resolutions, certificates and instruments of the
Issuer as we have deemed necessary to form a basis for the opinion hereinafter
expressed. In addition, we have reviewed such other instruments and documents as
we have deemed necessary to form a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed.
In our examination of the foregoing, we have assumed, without independent
investigation, (i) the genuineness of all signatures, and the authority of all
persons or entities signing all documents examined by us and (ii) the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to
authentic original documents of all copies submitted to us as certified,
conformed or photostatic copies. With regard to certain factual matters, we have
relied, without independent investigation or verification, upon statements and
representations of representatives of the Issuer.
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Lexington Corporate Properties Trust
June 4, 1998
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            Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion, as
of the date hereof, that the Shares, when issued and delivered in the manner set
forth in the Registration Statement, will be legally issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

            We hereby consent to being named as counsel to the Issuer in the
Registration Statement, to the references therein to our firm under the caption
"Legal Matters" and to the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.

                                Very truly yours,



                    /s/ Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
