

                                   EXHIBIT 5.1

                               OPINION OF COUNSEL

                                 March 17, 1997



Accom, Inc.
1490 O'Brien Drive
Menlo Park, CA 94025

         Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have examined the Registration  Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by
you with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on or about March 18, 1997 (the
"Registration   Statement")  in  connection  with  the  registration  under  the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  of a total of 500,000 shares of your Common
Stock (the "Shares")  reserved for issuance under the 1997  Non-Executive  Stock
Option  Plan  (the  "Plan").  As  your  legal  counsel,  we  have  examined  the
proceedings taken and are familiar with the proceedings  proposed to be taken by
you in connection with the sale and issuance of the Shares under the Plan.

         It is our opinion that,  when issued and sold in the manner referred to
in the Plan and pursuant to the agreement that  accompanies each grant under the
Plan,  the  Shares  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 it appears in the
Registration Statement and any amendments to it.

                                    Sincerely,

                                    VENTURE LAW GROUP
                                    A Professional Corporation

                                    /s/ Venture Law Group


WWE

