1
                      [TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP LETTERHEAD]
                               ATTORNEYS AT LAW


                                                                    EXHIBIT 5




                                February 28, 1997





Norrell Corporation
3535 Piedmont Road, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia  30305


Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Norrell Corporation, a Georgia Corporation 
(the "Company"), in connection with the proposed offering and sale by certain 
shareholders of the Company (the "Selling Shareholders") of 1,000,000 shares 
(the "Shares") of the Company's Common Stock, no par value (the "Common Stock").

         In the capacity described above, we have examined originals (or copies
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement"), with respect
to the secondary public offering of the Shares, the form of Common Stock
certificate, the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company as in
effect on the date hereof, the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of
August 5, 1996 (the "Plan of Reorganization") by and among the Company, N.
Acquisition Corp., American Technical Resources, Inc., and the Selling
Shareholders, the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of August 5, 1996
between the Company and the Selling Shareholders, corporate and other documents,
records and papers and certificates of officers of the Company and public 
officials. In such examination, we have also assumed the genuineness of all 
signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us and the 
genuineness and conformity to original documents of documents submitted to us 
as certified or photostatic copies.

         On the basis of such examination, it is our opinion that the Shares are
duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable shares of
Common Stock of the Company.





   2
TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
A LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP

Norrell Corporation
February 28, 1997
Page 2


         We are members of the Bar of Georgia. In expressing the opinions set
forth above, we are not passing on the laws of any jurisdiction other than the
laws of the State of Georgia and the Federal law of the United States of
America.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the heading
"Legal Matters" in the related prospectus.


                                         Very truly yours,


                                         TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP