EXHIBIT 2
 
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
One Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010-3690
212 578-2211
                                                        [LOGO METLIFE]
CHRISTOPHER P. NICHOLAS
Associate General Counsel
Law Department
Tel 212  578-4487    Fax 212  578-8144



                                                          November 13, 1997


Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
One Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010


Dear Sirs:

  This opinion is furnished in connection with the offering of a variable
additional insurance rider ("Rider") of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
("Metropolitan Life") under a Registration Statement to be filed by Metropolitan
Life and Metropolitan Life Separate Account UL ("Account") on November 13, 1997
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Act").

  I have made such examination of the law and examined such corporate records
and such other documents as in my judgment are necessary and appropriate to
enable me to render the following opinion that:

  1.  Metropolitan Life has been duly organized under the laws of the State of
New York and is a validly existing corporation.

  2.  The Account is duly created and validly existing as a separate account
pursuant to Section 4240 of Chapter 28 of the Consolidated Laws of New York.

  3.  The portion of the assets to be held in the Account equal to the reserves
and other liabilities under the Riders and under other life insurance policies
the premium in which may be allocated to the Account is not chargeable with
liabilities arising out of any other business Metropolitan Life may conduct.

  4.  The Riders have been duly authorized by Metropolitan Life and, when issued
as contemplated by the Registration Statement, as amended, will constitute
legal, validly issued and binding obligations of Metropolitan Life in accordance
with their terms.

 
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
November 14, 1997
Page 2


  I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion 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,
 


                                          /s/ Christopher P. Nicholas
                                          Christopher P. Nicholas
                                          Associate General Counsel



cc: Gary A. Beller, Esq.