20




                                                           Exhibit 23(b)(2)





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:

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

Sincerely,


/s/ Cheryl M. Critelli

Cheryl M. Critelli
Associate Corporate Counsel
(515) 280-4818