19




                                                           Exhibit 23(b)(1)





December 19, 1996



ALLIED Group, Inc.
701 Fifth Avenue
Des Moines, IA  50391-2000

Re:  Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to
     Registration Statement on Form S-3
     Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan

Gentlemen:

     We consent to the use of our opinion filed as Exhibit 5.a. to the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-48233) filed by
ALLIED Group, Inc. with the Securities Exchange Commission, and to the
reference to us under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus
contained in Amendment No. 3 to such Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,


/s/ Donald J. Brown

Donald J. Brown
Davis, Brown, Koehn, Shors & Roberts, P.C.