Exhibit 3(i)
New England Life Insurance Company
501 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02117
                                                July 6, 1998

New England Variable Life Separate Account
New England Life Insurance Company
501 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02117

Gentlemen:

     In my capacity as General Counsel of New England Life Insurance Company
(the "Company"), I am rendering the following opinion in connection with the
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pre-effective Amendment
No. 1 to the registration statement on Form S-6 (File No. 333-46401) under the
Securities Act of 1933. This Pre-effective Amendment is being filed with respect
to individual Flexible Premium Adjustable Variable Life Insurance Policies (the
"Policies") issued by New England Variable Life Separate Account (the
"Account").

     It is my professional opinion that:

     1. The Account is a separate investment account of the Company and is
        validly existing pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of
        Massachusetts.

     2. The Flexible Premium Adjustable Variable Life Insurance Policies, when
        issued in accordance with the prospectus contained in the Registration
        Statement and in compliance with applicable local law, are and will be
        legal and binding obligations of the Company in accordance with their
        terms; and

     3. Assets attributable to reserves and other contract liabilities and held
        in the Account will not be chargeable with liabilities arising out of
        any other business the Company may conduct.

     In forming this opinion, I have made such examination of law and examined
such records and other documents as in my judgment are necessary and
appropriate.

     I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of my name under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,
                                        H. James Wilson
                                        General Counsel