CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

                               -------------------



                  We hereby  consent to the  incorporation  by  reference in the
Registration  Statement of Legg Mason, Inc. on Form S-8 (which registers 100,000
shares of Legg  Mason,  Inc.  Common  Stock  under the Legg Mason  Wood  Walker,
Incorporated  Professional  Branch  Manager  Phantom  Stock  Agreements)  of our
reports  dated May 4, 2000,  except for Note 17, as to which the date is May 26,
2000 and May 4, 2000,  except  for Note 4 as to which the date is May 26,  2000,
relating  to  the  financial   statements  and  financial  statement  schedules,
respectively,  which appear in Legg Mason, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 2000.  We also consent to the reference to us under the
heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.





/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
January 2, 2001



                                                                Exhibit 23(a)