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EXHIBIT (i)
[John Hancock Financial Services Company Letterhead]
October 27, 2000
John Hancock Variable Series Trust I
John Hancock Place
P.O. Box 111
Boston, MA 02117
Trustees:
This opinion is given in connection with the filing by John Hancock
Variable Series Trust I, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust") of its
Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 to its Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File
No. 33-2081; the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933 and
the Investment Company Act of 1940, relating to an indefinite amount of its
shares of beneficial interest, which includes thirty-three separate series
(i.e., the Managed, Growth & Income, Equity Index, Large Cap Value, Large Cap
Growth, Mid Cap Value, Mid Cap Growth, Small/Mid Cap Growth, Real Estate Equity,
Small/Mid Cap CORE, Small Cap Value, Small Cap Growth, Global Balanced,
International Equity Index, International Opportunities, International
Opportunities II, Emerging Markets Equity, Short-Term Bond, Bond Index, Active
Bond, Global Bond, High Yield Bond, Core Bond, Large Cap Aggressive Growth,
Fundamental Growth, International Equity, Aggressive Balanced, American Lenders
Large Cap Value, Large Cap Value CORE, Large/Mid Cap Value, Mid Cap Blend,
Small/Mid Cap Value, and Money Market Funds). The Trust's shares of beneficial
interest, including the thirty-three series of shares, are hereinafter referred
to as the "shares".
I have examined the Trust's Declaration of Trust, its By-Laws, the
Registration Statement of its predecessor as originally filed on December
11, 1985, subsequent post-effective amendments and this Post-Effective Amendment
No. 28, and such other records, certificates, documents and statutes that I have
deemed relevant in order to render the opinion expressed herein.
Based on such examination, I am of the opinion that:
1. The Trust is a business trust duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
2. The shares offered for sale by the Trust, when issued in the manner
contemplated by this Post-Effective Amendment to its Registration
Statement, will be legally issued, fully-paid and non-assessable.
I consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit (i) to the Post-Effective
Amendment to the Registration Statement and to the use of my name in the
Statement of Additional Information incorporated by reference into the
Prospectus comprising a part of the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ RONALD J. BOCAGE
Ronald J. Bocage
Vice President and Counsel
