Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a polarizing plate safe in operation, less burdensome on the environment, and with excellent adhesion to a polarizer, also disclosed are a polarizing plate manufactured using said method, and a liquid crystal display device using said polarizing plate. In the method of manufacturing a polarizing plate, a polarizing plate is manufactured in which a protective film which is hydrophilized by alkali saponification is laminated to at least one surface of the polarizer. In the method, said protective film contains cellulose acetate, and the surface free energy before alkali saponification of said protective film satisfies formula (SI), below, and the surface free energy after alkali saponification satisfies formula (SII), below. Formula (SI): 0.25≦γsh/γsp≦0.40; Formula (SII): 1.5≦γsh/γsp≦3.0 (wherein γsh represents the hydrogen bond component of the surface free energy, and γsp represents the dipole component).