-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000704051-09-000140.txt : 20091103
<SEC-HEADER>0000704051-09-000140.hdr.sgml : 20091103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091103153109
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000704051-09-000140
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091030
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091103

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEGG MASON INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000704051
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INVESTMENT ADVICE [6282]
		IRS NUMBER:				521200960
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 INTERNATIONAL DRIVE
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4105390000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 INTERNATIONAL DRIVE
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BERESFORD DENNIS R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199631

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08529
		FILM NUMBER:		091154321

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 619100
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75261-9100
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199631</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERESFORD DENNIS R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>LEGG MASON, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 INTERNATIONAL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-10-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12.11</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.32</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12.11</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12253</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Units acquired pursuant to and under the conditions of the Legg Mason, Inc. Non-Employee Director Equity Plan, as amended.  See Exhibit 10.2 of Legg Mason's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">1-for-1</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Erin L. Clark, Attorney in fact for Dennis R. Beresford</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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