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                                    EXHIBIT 5



                                October 24, 1997



On Assignment, Inc.
26651 West Agoura Road
Calabasas, CA 91302

               Re:  On Assignment, Inc. Registration Statement
                    for Offering of 1,000,000 Shares of Common Stock

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We refer to your registration on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 1,000,000 shares of Common
Stock under the Restated 1987 Stock Option Plan. We advise you that, in our
opinion, when such shares have been issued and sold pursuant to the applicable
provisions of the Restated 1987 Stock Option Plan and in accordance with the
Registration Statement, such shares will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable shares of the Company's Common Stock.

        We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.


              Very truly yours,


              /s/ Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP
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                  Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP