<PAGE>
Exhibit No. 9
KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART LLP
1800 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, N.W.
2ND FLOOR
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036-1800
TELEPHONE 202-778-9000
www.kl.com
June 27, 2000
PaineWebber Mutual Fund Trust
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019-6114
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have requested our opinion, as counsel to PaineWebber Mutual Fund
Trust ("Trust"), as to certain matters regarding the issuance of certain Shares
of the Trust. As used in this letter, the term "Shares" means the Class A, Class
B, Class C and Class Y shares of beneficial interest of the series of the Trust
listed below that may be issued during the time that Post-Effective Amendment
No. 29 to the Trust's Registration Statement on Form N-1A ("PEA") is effective
and has not been superseded by another post-effective amendment. The series of
the Trust are PaineWebber California Tax-Free Income Fund and PaineWebber
National Tax-Free Income Fund.
As such counsel, we have examined certified or other copies, believed by
us to be genuine, of the Trust's Declaration of Trust and by-laws and such
resolutions and minutes of meetings of the Trust's Board of Trustees as we have
deemed relevant to our opinion, as set forth herein. Our opinion is limited to
the laws and facts in existence on the date hereof, and it is further limited to
the laws (other than the conflict of law rules) of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts that in our experience are normally applicable to the issuance of
shares by investment companies organized as business trusts in that State and to
the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act"), the Investment Company Act of 1940
("1940 Act") and the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC") thereunder.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the issuance of the
Shares has been duly authorized by the Trust and that, when sold in accordance
with the terms contemplated by the PEA, including receipt by the Trust of full
payment for the Shares and compliance with the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, the
Shares will have been validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
We note, however, that the Trust is an entity of the type commonly known
as a "Massachusetts business trust." Under Massachusetts law, shareholders
could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the
obligations of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust states that persons with
claims against the Trust shall look solely to the Trust property or to the
property of one or more series of the Trust for satisfaction of claims. It also
states that notice of
<PAGE>
PaineWebber Mutual Fund Trust
June 27, 2000
Page 2
such disclaimer may be given in any obligation, contract instrument, certificate
or undertaking made or issued by the officers or the trustees of the Trust on
behalf of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust further provides: (1) for
indemnification from the assets of the Trust or the appropriate series for all
loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations
of the Trust or any series by virtue of ownership of shares of the Trust or such
series; and (2) for the Trust or appropriate series to reimburse such
shareholder out of Trust property for all legal and other expenses reasonably
incurred by the shareholder in connection with any such claim or liability.
Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of
shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Trust or series
would be unable to meet its obligations.
We hereby consent to this opinion accompanying the PEA when it is filed
with the SEC and to the reference to our firm in the statement of additional
information that is being filed as part of the PEA.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART LLP
