POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of John Hancock Variable
Series Trust I does hereby constitute and appoint Michele G. Van Leer, Ronald J.
Bocage, Karen Q. Visconti and Arnold R. Bergman, and each of them, with full
power of substitution, her true and lawful attorneys and agents to execute, in
the name of, and on behalf of, the undersigned as a member of said Board of
Trustees, the Registration Statements under the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, and each amendment to the Registration
Statements, to be filed for John Hancock Variable Series Trust I with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and to take any and all action and to execute
in the name of, and on behalf of, the undersigned as a member of said Board of
Trustees or otherwise any and all other instruments, including applications for
exemptions from such Acts, which said attorneys and agents deem necessary or
advisable to enable John Hancock Variable Series Trust I to comply with the
Securities Acts of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and the rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Commission in respect thereof; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and
confirms as her own act and deed all that each of said attorneys and agents
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Each of said attorneys and agents
shall have, and may exercise, all of the powers hereby conferred.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set her hand on the date
shown.


7/19/04                                      /s/ Michele G. Van Leer
Date                                         -----------------------------------
                                             Michele G. Van Leer
                                             Chairman and Trustee



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of John Hancock Variable
Series Trust I does hereby constitute and appoint Michele G. Van Leer, Ronald J.
Bocage, Karen Q. Visconti and Arnold R. Bergman, and each of them, with full
power of substitution, his true and lawful attorneys and agents to execute, in
the name of, and on behalf of, the undersigned as a member of said Board of
Trustees, the Registration Statements under the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, and each amendment to the Registration
Statements, to be filed for John Hancock Variable Series Trust I with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and to take any and all action and to execute
in the name of, and on behalf of, the undersigned as a member of said Board of
Trustees or otherwise any and all other instruments, including applications for
exemptions from such Acts, which said attorneys and agents deem necessary or
advisable to enable John Hancock Variable Series Trust I to comply with the
Securities Acts of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and the rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Commission in respect thereof; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and
confirms as his own act and deed all that each of said attorneys and agents
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Each of said attorneys and agents
shall have, and may exercise, all of the powers hereby conferred.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand on the date
shown.


7/19/04                                      /s/ Hassell H. McClellan
Date                                         -----------------------------------
                                             Hassell H. McClellan
                                             Trustee



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of John Hancock Variable
Series Trust I does hereby constitute and appoint Michele G. Van Leer, Ronald J.
Bocage, Karen Q. Visconti and Arnold R. Bergman, and each of them, with full
power of substitution, her true and lawful attorneys and agents to execute, in
the name of, and on behalf of, the undersigned as a member of said Board of
Trustees, the Registration Statements under the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, and each amendment to the Registration
Statements, to be filed for John Hancock Variable Series Trust I with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and to take any and all action and to execute
in the name of, and on behalf of, the undersigned as a member of said Board of
Trustees or otherwise any and all other instruments, including applications for
exemptions from such Acts, which said attorneys and agents deem necessary or
advisable to enable John Hancock Variable Series Trust I to comply with the
Securities Acts of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and the rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Commission in respect thereof; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and
confirms as her own act and deed all that each of said attorneys and agents
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Each of said attorneys and agents
shall have, and may exercise, all of the powers hereby conferred.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set her hand on the date
shown.


7/19/04                                      /s/ Diane C. Kessler
Date                                         -----------------------------------
                                             Diane C. Kessler
                                             Trustee



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of John Hancock Variable
Series Trust I does hereby constitute and appoint Michele G. Van Leer, Ronald J.
Bocage, Karen Q. Visconti and Arnold R. Bergman, and each of them, with full
power of substitution, her true and lawful attorneys and agents to execute, in
the name of, and on behalf of, the undersigned as a member of said Board of
Trustees, the Registration Statements under the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, and each amendment to the Registration
Statements, to be filed for John Hancock Variable Series Trust I with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and to take any and all action and to execute
in the name of, and on behalf of, the undersigned as a member of said Board of
Trustees or otherwise any and all other instruments, including applications for
exemptions from such Acts, which said attorneys and agents deem necessary or
advisable to enable John Hancock Variable Series Trust I to comply with the
Securities Acts of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and the rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Commission in respect thereof; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and
confirms as her own act and deed all that each of said attorneys and agents
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Each of said attorneys and agents
shall have, and may exercise, all of the powers hereby conferred.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set her hand on the date
shown.


7/19/04                                      /s/ Elizabeth G. Cook
Date                                         -----------------------------------
                                             Elizabeth G. Cook
                                             Trustee



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned member of the Board of Trustees of John Hancock Variable
Series Trust I does hereby constitute and appoint Michele G. Van Leer, Ronald J.
Bocage, Karen Q. Visconti and Arnold R. Bergman, and each of them, with full
power of substitution, his true and lawful attorneys and agents to execute, in
the name of, and on behalf of, the undersigned as a member of said Board of
Trustees, the Registration Statements under the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, and each amendment to the Registration
Statements, to be filed for John Hancock Variable Series Trust I with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and to take any and all action and to execute
in the name of, and on behalf of, the undersigned as a member of said Board of
Trustees or otherwise any and all other instruments, including applications for
exemptions from such Acts, which said attorneys and agents deem necessary or
advisable to enable John Hancock Variable Series Trust I to comply with the
Securities Acts of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and the rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and
Exchange Commission in respect thereof; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and
confirms as his own act and deed all that each of said attorneys and agents
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Each of said attorneys and agents
shall have, and may exercise, all of the powers hereby conferred.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand on the date
shown.


7/19/04                                      /s/ Robert F. Verdonck
Date                                         -----------------------------------
                                             Robert F. Verdonck
                                             Trustee