<PAGE>
1701 Market Street Morgan, Lewis &
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2921 Bockius LLP
215-963-5000 Counselors at Law
Fax: 215-963-5299
July 12, 2000
SEI Institutional International Trust
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456
Re: Opinion of Counsel regarding Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to the
Registration Statement filed on Form N-1A under the Securities Act of 1933
(File No. 33-22821).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to SEI Institutional International Trust, a
Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the
above-referenced Registration Statement (as amended, the "Registration
Statement") which relates to the Trust's units of beneficial interest, without
par value (collectively, the "Shares"). This opinion is being delivered to you
in connection with the Trust's filing of Post-Effective Amendment No. 31 to the
Registration Statement (the "Amendment") to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 485(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"1933 Act"). With your permission, all assumptions and statements of reliance
herein have been made without any independent investigation or verification on
our part except to the extent otherwise expressly stated, and we express no
opinion with respect to the subject matter or accuracy of such assumptions or
items relied upon.
In connection with this opinion, we have reviewed, among other things, executed
copies of the following documents:
(a) a certificate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as to the existence
and good standing of the Trust;
(b) the Agreement and Declaration of Trust for the Trust and all
amendments and supplements thereto (the "Declaration of Trust");
<PAGE>
SEI Institutional International Trust
July 12, 2000
Page 2
(c) a certificate executed by Todd B. Cipperman, Vice President and
Assistant Secretary of the Trust, certifying as to, and attaching
copies of, the Trust's Declaration of Trust and By-Laws (the
"By-Laws"), and certain resolutions adopted by the Board of Trustees
of the Trust authorizing the issuance of the Shares; and
(d) a printer's proof of the Amendment.
In our capacity as counsel to the Trust, we have examined the originals, or
certified, conformed or reproduced copies, of all records, agreements,
instruments and documents as we have deemed relevant or necessary as the basis
for the opinion hereinafter expressed. In all such examinations, we have assumed
the legal capacity of all natural persons executing documents, the genuineness
of all signatures, the authenticity of all original or certified copies, and the
conformity to original or certified copies of all copies submitted to us as
conformed or reproduced copies. As to various questions of fact relevant to such
opinion, we have relied upon, and assume the accuracy of, certificates and oral
or written statements of public officials and officers or representatives of the
Trust. We have assumed that the Amendment, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, will be in substantially the form of the printer's proof
referred to in paragraph (d) above.
Based upon, and subject to, the limitations set forth herein, we are of the
opinion that the Shares, when issued and sold in accordance with the Declaration
of Trust and By-Laws, and for the consideration described in the Registration
Statement, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable under the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not concede that we are in
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the 1933
Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
