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                                                                      Exhibit 5



                        [ALLEN TELECOM INC. LETTERHEAD]


                                December 4, 1998


McDara P. Folan, III
Vice President, Secretary & General Counsel


Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 5th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC  20549

         Re:      Allen Telecom Inc. Employee Before-Tax Savings Plan
                  ---------------------------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I have acted as counsel for Allen Telecom Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Registrant"), in connection with the Allen Telecom Inc. Employee
Before-Tax Savings Plan (the "Plan"). I have examined such documents, records
and matters of law as we have deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion,
and based thereon, I am of the opinion that:

         (1) The Registrant's Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share (the
"Common Stock"), outstanding on the date hereof that may be purchased by the
Plan and delivered to participants in the Plan, will be, when purchased and
delivered in accordance with the Plan, duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable so long as the consideration received by the Company is
at least equal to the par value of the Common Stock.

         (2) The Common Stock that may after the date hereof be issued or
transferred pursuant to the Plan will be, when issued or transferred in
accordance with the Plan, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable so long as:

                  (a) the issuance of any newly issued shares, and the transfer
of any treasury shares, are, prior to any such issuance or transfer, duly
authorized, and

                  (b) the consideration received or to be received by the
Registrant is at least equal to the par value of the Common Stock.

         (3) The participations in the Plan to be extended to the participants
in the Plan will be, when extended in accordance with the Plan, validly issued.

         I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed by the Registrant to effect
registration of the Common Stock to be issued and sold pursuant to the Plan
under the Securities Act of 1933.

                               Very truly yours,

                              /s/  McDara P. Folan, III

                              McDara P. Folan, III




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