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                                                                   EXHIBIT 11(a)



           [LETTERHEAD GORDON ALTMAN BUTOWSKY WEITZEN SHALOV & WEIN]



                                 April 30, 1998

Dean Witter Strategist Fund
Two World Trade Center
New York, New York  10048

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            This opinion is being furnished to Dean Witter Strategist Fund, a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the Registration
Statement on Form N-14 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), to be filed by the Trust in connection
with the acquisition by the Trust of substantially all the assets of Dean Witter
Global Asset Allocation Fund ("Global Asset"), in exchange for shares of
beneficial interest, par value $.01, of the Trust ("Shares") and the assumption
by the Trust of certain stated liabilities of Global Asset pursuant to an
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of April 30, 1998, between the
Trust and Global Asset (the "Reorganization Agreement"). We have examined such
statutes, regulations, corporate records and other documents and reviewed such
questions of law as we deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this
opinion.

            As to matters of Massachusetts law contained in this opinion, we
have relied upon the opinion of Lane Altman & Owens LLP, dated April 30, 1998.

            Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares when
issued, as described in the Reorganization Agreement, will be duly authorized
and, assuming receipt of the consideration to be paid therefor, upon delivery as
provided in the Reorganization Agreement, will be legally issued, fully paid and
non-assessable (except for the potential liability of share holders described in
the Trust's Prospectus dated September 26, 1997 under the caption "Additional
Information").

            We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. We do
not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                Very truly yours,

                                             Gordon Altman Butowsky
                                             Weitzen Shalov & Wein