<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF LAMALIE ASSOCIATES, INC. FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-28-1998 <PERIOD-START> MAR-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1997 <CASH> 22,424 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 16,096 <ALLOWANCES> 1,340 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 39,381 <PP&E> 6,589 <DEPRECIATION> 2,130 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 50,364 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 13,818 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 53 <OTHER-SE> 29,272 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 50,364 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 30,498 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 27,376 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 108 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,014 <INCOME-TAX> 1,296 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,718 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,718 <EPS-PRIMARY> .45 <EPS-DILUTED> .45