Exhibit 23(A)



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS




We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in this  Registration
Statement  on Form S-8 of our  report  dated  March  14,  2003  relating  to the
financial statements of Old Republic International Corporation,  which appear in
the Old Republic International  Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2002.



                                            /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP



Chicago, Illinois
March 26, 2003