Exhibits 5 and 23.1 Williams, Mullen, Christian & Dobbins Central Fidelity Bank Building Two James Center OFFICES IN 1021 East Cary Street RICHMOND P. O. Box 1320 WASHINGTON, D.C. Richmond, Virginia 23210-1320 AFFILIATE OFFICE: TELEPHONE (804) 643-1991 LONDON TELECOPIER (804) 783-6456 WRITER'S DIRECT DIAL 783-6432 December 2, 1994 Universal Corporation Hamilton Street and Broad P. O. Box 25099 Richmond, VA 23260 We are familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by Universal Corporation, a Virginia corporation (the "Company"), with respect to the 100,000 shares of Common Stock, without par value (the "Shares"), of the Company authorized for issuance pursuant to the Universal Corporation 1994 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Plan"). As counsel for the Company, we have assisted in the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement"), to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission to effect the registration of the Shares offered pursuant to the Plan under the Securities Act of 1933. In this connection, we have examined the Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, records of proceedings of the Board of Directors of the Company, and the Plan, and such other records and documents as we have deemed necessary or advisable to render the opinion contained herein. Based upon our examination and inquiries, we are of the opinion that the Shares will, when issued pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan and duly delivered against payment therefor, be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us as counsel for the Company in the Registration Statement. Very truly yours, WILLIAMS, MULLEN, CHRISTIAN & DOBBINS By: Robert E. Spicer, Jr.