Exhibit 5

                                 MILLER NASH LLP
                                ATTORNEYS AT LAW
                        111 S.W. FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 3400
                           PORTLAND, OREGON 97204-3699
                            TELEPHONE (503) 224-5858
                            FACSIMILE (503) 224-0155


                                June 4, 2003


Barrett Business Services, Inc.
4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue
Portland, Oregon  97239

            Subject: Form S-8 Relating to 2003 Stock Incentive Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

           Reference  is  made  to  the  Registration   Statement  on  Form  S-8
("Registration  Statement") to be filed by Barrett  Business  Services,  Inc., a
Maryland   corporation  (the  "Company"),   with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission for the purpose of  registering  under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the  "Securities  Act"),  400,000 shares of the Company's common stock,
$.01 par value (the "Registered  Shares"), to be issued under the Company's 2003
Stock  Incentive  Plan (the  "Plan"),  together  with  options and other  rights
relating thereto.

           We  have  examined  originals  or  copies,   certified  or  otherwise
identified to our  satisfaction,  of such  corporate  records,  certificates  of
public officials, and other documents as we have deemed necessary or relevant as
a basis for the opinion set forth herein.

           Based on the foregoing,  it is our opinion that,  when the Registered
Shares are issued by the Company upon exercise of options or issued  pursuant to
other  rights or awards  duly  granted  under  the Plan  while the  Registration
Statement  is  effective,  and  payment for such shares to the extent and in the
manner  required  by the Plan is received  by the  Company,  such shares will be
legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

           We consent to the use of this opinion in the  Registration  Statement
and in any amendments  thereof.  In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit
that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7
of the Securities Act.

                                    Very truly yours,



                                    /s/MILLER NASH LLP