EXHIBIT 7.(a)

                [Letterhead of Pacific Life & Annuity Company]

December 19, 2001

PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
700 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA  92660

RE:  Pacific Select Estate Preserver - NY Flexible Premium Variable Life
     Insurance Policy

To whom it may concern:

In my capacity as Assistant Vice President of the Product Design Department of
Pacific Life & Annuity Company, I have provided actuarial advice concerning:

The preparation of the Pre-Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form
S-6 filed by Pacific Life Insurance Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to variable life
insurance policies (the "Registration Statement") and the preparation of the
policy forms for the variable life insurance policies described in the
Registration Statement (the "Policies").

It is my professional opinion that:

The illustration of death benefits, cash values and accumulated premiums shown
in this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form
S-6 as Exhibit 7(b), based on the assumptions used in the illustrations, are
consistent with the provisions of the Policies. The rate structure of the
Policies has not been designed so as to make the relationship between premiums
and benefits, as shown in the illustrations, appear to be correspondingly more
favorable to the prospective purchaser of the Policies at age 55 in the
underwriting classes illustrated than to prospective purchasers of Policies at
other ages or underwriting classes.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.


Sincerely,

/s/ LAWRENCE M. HERSH

Lawrence M. Hersh, FSA, MAAA
Assistant Vice President