Exhibit 2

                                October 30, 1998

Board of Trustees
The Northwestern Mutual Life
  Insurance Company
Milwaukee, WI  53202

TO ALL TRUSTEES:

         As Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of The
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (the "Company") I have general
supervision of the Law Department of such Company and its legal affairs. In such
capacity I have supervised the corporate proceedings relating to the
establishment of Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account (the "Account")
pursuant to the provisions of the Wisconsin Statutes and the issuance and
proposed issuance in connection therewith of Variable Joint Life insurance
policies (the "Policies"). I have also participated in the preparation of
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-6 (the
"Registration Statement") which is to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission with respect to the Policies. In addition, I have examined such other
documents and such questions of law as, in my judgment, are necessary or
appropriate for purposes of this opinion. Based on the foregoing, it is my
opinion that:

         1.       The Company is a duly organized and validly existing mutual
                  life insurance corporation under the laws of the State of
                  Wisconsin, duly authorized under such laws to issue and sell
                  life insurance and annuity contracts.

         2.       The Account is a separate account of the Company duly created
                  and validly existing pursuant to Wisconsin law.

         3.       The issuance and sale of the Policies have been duly
                  authorized by the Company and duly approved by the
                  Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Wisconsin. When
                  issued and sold in compliance with local law and in the manner
                  stated in the Prospectus constituting a part of the
                  Registration Statement the Policies will be valid and legally
                  binding obligations of the Company in accordance with their
                  terms.





Board of Trustees
October 30, 1998
Page 2

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

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          JOHN M. BREMER

                                          John M. Bremer
                                          Executive Vice President,
                                            General Counsel and
                                            Secretary