EXHIBIT 5




                                 November 24, 1998




Norstan, Inc.
5101 Shady Oak Road
Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343

     RE:  REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 (THE "REGISTRATION STATEMENT")

Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel for Norstan, Inc. (the "Company") in connection
with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act") of 1,200,000 shares of the Company's common stock, no par
value (the "Common Stock") issuable under the Company's 1995 Long-Term Incentive
Plan (the "Plan") and, subject to adjustment as provided therein, under the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 proposed to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

     We have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including
an examination of originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction as being true reproductions of originals, of all such corporate
records of the Company, agreements and other instruments, certificates of public
officials and officers and representatives of the Company, and such other
documents as have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions hereafter
expressed.

     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in our examination, we
have assumed without independent verification, that (i) each of the parties
thereto has duly and validly executed and delivered each instrument, document
and agreement to which such party is a signatory, and such party's obligations
set forth therein are its legal, valid, and binding obligations, enforceable in
accordance with their respective terms, (ii) each natural person executing any
such instrument, document or agreement is legally competent to do so, and (iii)
all corporate records made available to us by the Company and all public records
reviewed are accurate and complete.

     Based upon the foregoing and having regard to legal considerations that we
deem relevant, we are of the opinion that, when the shares of Common Stock have
been registered under the Securities Act, and when the Company has received the
consideration to be received for said shares in accordance with the provisions
of the Plan and said shares of Common Stock have been issued by the Company as
provided under the Plan, said shares of Common Stock will be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.


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     We are qualified to practice law in the State of Minnesota.  The opinions
set forth herein are expressly limited to the laws of the State of Minnesota and
we do not purport to be experts on, or express any opinion herein concerning any
laws other than the laws of the State of Minnesota.  We express no opinion
concerning, and we assume no responsibility as to laws or judicial decisions
related to, or any orders, consents, or other authorizations or approvals as may
be required by, any federal law, including any federal securities law, or any
state securities or blue sky laws.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm therein.

                         Very truly yours,


                         /s/ Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP





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