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                                                                    THE HARTFORD

May 8, 2012

Board of Directors
Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company
200 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, CT 06089

RE:  SEPARATE ACCOUNT SEVEN
     HARTFORD LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
     File No. 333-176152

Dear Sir/Madam:

I have acted as Counsel to Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company (the
"Company"), a Connecticut insurance company and Separate Account Seven (the
"Account") in connection with the registration of an indefinite amount of
securities in the form of variable annuity contracts (the "Contracts") with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
I have examined such documents (including the Form N-4 registration statement)
and reviewed such questions of law as I considered necessary and appropriate,
and on the basis of such examination and review, it is my opinion that:

1.   The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing as a stock
     life insurance company under the laws of the State of Connecticut and is
     duly authorized by the Insurance Department of the State of Connecticut to
     issue the Contracts.

2.   The Account is a duly authorized and existing separate account established
     pursuant to the provisions of Section 38a-433 of the Connecticut Statutes.

3.   To the extent so provided under the contracts, that portion of the assets
     of the Account equal to the reserves and other contract liabilities with
     respect to the Account will not be chargeable with liabilities arising out
     of any other business that the Company may conduct.

4.   The Contracts, when issued as contemplated by the Form N-4 Registration
     Statement, will constitute legal, validly issued and binding obligations of
     the Company.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Form N-4
registration statement for the Contacts and the Account.

Sincerely yours,

/s/ Sarah M. Patterson
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Sarah M. Patterson
Senior Counsel