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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1
                      ROBINSON, BRADSHAW & HINSON, P.A.
                               ATTORNEYS AT LAW
                           ONE INDEPENDENCE CENTER         SOUTH CAROLINA OFFICE
                     101 NORTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 1900   THE GUARDIAN BUILDING
PATRICK S. BRYANT    CHARLOTTE,NORTH CAROLINA  28246-1900       ONE LAW PLACE - 
(704) 377-8366                                                         SUITE 600
                                                               P.O. DRAWER 12070
                                                             ROCK HILL, SC 29731
                           TELEPHONE (704) 377-2536
                              FAX (704) 378-4000
                                                        TELEPHONE (803) 325-2900
                                                              FAX (803) 325-2929


                                July 17, 1997


Caraustar Industries, Inc.
3100 Washington Street
Austell, Georgia  30001

         Re:     Registration Statement on Form S-4

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-29937)
(the "Registration Statement") of Caraustar Industries, Inc., a North Carolina
corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "Company"), filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission for the purpose of registering under the 
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), up to 800,000 shares of the 
Company's Common Stock, par value $.10 per share (the "Shares"), for issuance 
from time to time in connection with business acquisitions.  We have examined 
the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and the Second Amended and 
Restated Bylaws, as amended, of the Company, records of proceedings of the 
Board of Directors of the Company, and other Company records, together with
applicable certificates of public officials and other documents that we have
deemed relevant.

         Based upon the foregoing and subject to the conditions set forth
below, it is our opinion that the Shares, when issued and sold as contemplated
by the Registration Statement, will be legally issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

         The opinions expressed herein are contingent upon the Registration
Statement, as amended, becoming effective under the Securities Act and the
Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Second Amended and
Restated Bylaws not being further amended prior to the issuance of the Shares.

   
         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to said
Registration Statement and to being named therein and in the prospectus that
constitutes a part thereof as attorneys who will pass upon certain legal
matters in connection with the validity of the Shares.  In giving such consent,
we do not hereby admit we are in the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of The Act.
    

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        ROBINSON, BRADSHAW & HINSON, P.A.

                                        /s/ Patrick S. Bryant
                                        ---------------------------------
                                        Patrick S. Bryant





