Exhibit 23(a)

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



                  We hereby  consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this
     Registration  Statement  on Form S-3 of: (1) our  report  dated May 3, 2002
     relating to the financial  statements  which appears in Legg Mason,  Inc.'s
     Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2002;  and (2) our
     report dated May 3, 2002 relating to the financial statement schedule which
     appears  in such  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K.  We  also  consent  to the
     references  to us  under  the  heading  "Independent  Accountants"  in such
     Registration Statement.




     /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
     Baltimore, Maryland
     June 27, 2002