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Exhibit 10(a)
[LETTERHEAD OF SUTHERLAND ASBILL & BRENNAN]
September 5, 2000
Board of Directors
GE Life and Annuity Assurance Company
6610 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230
RE: GE Life & Annuity Separate Account 4
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We hereby consent to the reference to our name under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus filed as part of the Post-Effective Amendment No. 3
to the Registration Statement on Form N-4 filed by GE Life & Annuity Separate
Account 4 for certain variable annuity insurance contracts (File No. 333-
62695). In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of
1933.
Very truly yours,
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
/s/ Stephen E. Roth
By: _____________________________________
Stephen E. Roth