<PAGE>
Exhibit (j)(1)
CONSENT OF COUNSEL
We hereby consent to: (i) the use of our name and the references to
our firm under the captions "Trustees and Officers" and "Counsel" in the
Statement of Additional Information included in Post-Effective Amendment No. 12
to the Registration Statement (No. 33-49290) on Form N-1A under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of
The Galaxy VIP Fund; and (ii) the use and incorporation by reference in said
Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 of our firm's opinion of counsel filed as
Exhibit (10) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 7 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of The Galaxy VIP Fund.
/s/ Drinker Biddle & Reath
-------------------------------
DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
October 6, 2000
