EXHIBIT 5.1




                               PALMER & DODGE LLP
                                One Beacon Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Telephone: (617) 573-0100                              Facsimile: (617) 227-4420


                                December 10, 1997


MAXIMUS, Inc.
1356 Beverly Road
McLean, Virginia 22101

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We are rendering this opinion in connection with the Registration Statement
on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") filed by MAXIMUS, Inc. (the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), on or about the date hereof.
The Registration Statement relates to 100,000 shares (the "Shares") of the
Company's Common Stock, no par value, offered pursuant to the provisions of the
Company's 1997 Director Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

     We have acted as your counsel in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement and are familiar with the proceedings taken by the
Company in connection with the authorization of the issuance and sale of the
Shares. We have examined all such documents as we consider necessary to enable
us to render this opinion.

     Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that when issued in
accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Shares will be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as a part of the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under Item 5 thereof.




                                                      Very truly yours,




                                                      /s/ Palmer & Dodge LLP
                                                      PALMER & DODGE LLP