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                                                                    Exhibit 3(i)




March 3, 2000


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 have provided legal advice concerning the preparation of a
registration statement on Form S-6, filed by New England Variable Life Separate
Account (the "Account") and the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to individual Variable
Survivorship Life Insurance Policies (the "Registration Statement").

It is my professional opinion that:

         1.       The Account is a separate investment account of the Company
                  that was duly created under applicable law and is validly
                  existing pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of
                  Massachusetts.

         2.       The Variable Survivorship 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