OPINION OF O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP

Published on December 24, 1998



EXHIBIT 5.1

[LETTERHEAD OF O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP]



December 22, 1998



Korn/Ferry International
1800 Century Park East, Suite 900
Los Angeles, California 90067


Re: REGISTRATION OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF
KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL
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Ladies and Gentlemen:

At your request, we have examined Amendment No. 3 to the Registration
Statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form S-1 (File No. 333-61697) of
Korn/Ferry International, a California corporation (the "Company"), in
connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of shares of
Common Stock, no par value, of the Company having an aggregate offering price of
up to $201,250,000 (the "Shares"). Certain of the Shares are being offered by
the Company (including the Shares subject to the underwriters' over-allotment
option) and the Shares not being offered by the Company are being offered by
certain shareholders of the Company. We are familiar with the proceedings taken
by the Company in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the
Shares.

Subject to certain proposed additional proceedings being taken as
contemplated by the Registration Statement prior to the issuance and sale of the
Shares being offered by the Company and the sale of the Shares being offered by
certain shareholders of the Company, we are of the opinion that the Shares will
be duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company
and, upon payment for and delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the
Registration Statement and the countersigning of the certificate or certificates
representing the Shares by a duly authorized signatory of the registrar for the
Company's Common Stock, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the heading
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus constituting part of the Registration
Statement.

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP