EXHIBIT 5

                               PALMER & DODGE LLP
                    One Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-3190

TELEPHONE: (617) 573-0100                              FACSIMILE: (617) 227-4420


                                  June 19, 2001

MAXIMUS, Inc.
11419 Sunset Hills Road
Reston, Virginia 20190

         We are rendering this opinion in connection with the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") filed by MAXIMUS, Inc. (the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, on or about the date hereof. The Registration Statement
relates to up to 230,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, no par value per
share (the "Shares"). We understand that the Shares are to be offered and sold
in the manner described in the Registration Statement.

         We have acted as your counsel in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement and are familiar with the proceedings of the Board of
Directors in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares
(the "Resolutions"). We have examined such documents as we consider necessary to
render this opinion.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have
been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered by the Company against
payment therefor at the price to be determined pursuant to the Resolutions, will
be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as a part of the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus filed as part thereof.

                                      Very truly yours,

                                      /s/ Palmer & Dodge LLP

                                      PALMER & DODGE LLP