-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Rde/YXBchJrq4ebZwCNQ8YsqBFOvMjmXf9NkB7whOggCIvjMZEZeDzOyL9WsW7a+
 76pidiyMesW2SQZtlANEww==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000704051-03-000104.txt : 20030515
<SEC-HEADER>0000704051-03-000104.hdr.sgml : 20030515
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030515151515
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000704051-03-000104
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030515
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030515

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEGG MASON INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000704051
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES [6211]
		IRS NUMBER:				521200960
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 LIGHT ST
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202-1476
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4105390000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 LIGHT ST
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202-1476

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PRICE ROBERT F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001206668

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08529
		FILM NUMBER:		03704416

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 LIGHT STREET
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		410-539-0000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LEGG MASON INC
		STREET 2:		L00 LIGHT ST
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-15</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000704051</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LEGG MASON INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>lm</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206668</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PRICE ROBERT F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-15</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>922</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>15222</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person indirectly owns 1,300 shares of Common Stock by trust.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all securities held by trust, and this report should not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purposes.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas C. Merchant, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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