Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Financial Information Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 126,928	$ 264,423	$ 128,230	$ 384,570
Restricted cash	1,192	10,213
Accounts receivable, net	485,057	429,102
Other current assets	79,624	67,216
Total current assets	692,801	770,954
Property and equipment, net	66,933	74,448
Goodwill	1,327,041	1,309,358
Other intangible assets, net	104,068	118,889
Other assets	159,105	137,435
Total assets	2,349,948	2,411,084
Liabilities
Other current liabilities	367,064	497,837
Total current liabilities	367,064	497,837
Long-term debt, net	636,821	643,579
Other liabilities	172,343	163,466
Total liabilities	1,176,228	1,304,882
Stockholders' equity	1,173,720	1,106,202
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,349,948	2,411,084
FTI Consulting, Inc.
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	31,267	161,180	57,930	292,738
Restricted cash		8,632
Accounts receivable, net	175,934	148,698
Other current assets	25,744	22,599
Total current assets	232,945	341,109
Property and equipment, net	37,247	44,233
Goodwill	549,567	547,667
Other intangible assets, net	35,648	38,913
Investments in subsidiaries	1,668,949	1,538,883
Other assets	77,984	70,551
Total assets	2,602,340	2,581,356
Liabilities
Intercompany payables	482,622	433,284
Other current liabilities	204,466	316,559
Total current liabilities	687,088	749,843
Long-term debt, net	619,821	620,579
Other liabilities	121,711	104,732
Total liabilities	1,428,620	1,475,154
Stockholders' equity	1,173,720	1,106,202
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,602,340	2,581,356
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	547	197	410	1,430
Accounts receivable, net	183,820	165,871
Intercompany receivables	596,880	557,846
Other current assets	23,383	15,694
Total current assets	804,630	739,608
Property and equipment, net	15,463	14,240
Goodwill	443,920	439,068
Other intangible assets, net	26,464	34,692
Investments in subsidiaries	551,607	532,091
Other assets	103,196	48,529
Total assets	1,945,280	1,808,228
Liabilities
Intercompany payables	105,751	93,947
Other current liabilities	91,399	109,651
Total current liabilities	197,150	203,598
Long-term debt, net	17,000	23,000
Other liabilities	36,970	43,297
Total liabilities	251,120	269,895
Stockholders' equity	1,694,160	1,538,333
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,945,280	1,808,228
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	95,114	103,046	69,890	90,402
Restricted cash	1,192	1,581
Accounts receivable, net	125,303	114,533
Intercompany receivables	57,826	59,857
Other current assets	30,497	28,923
Total current assets	309,932	307,940
Property and equipment, net	14,223	15,975
Goodwill	333,554	322,623
Other intangible assets, net	74,377	45,284
Other assets	24,477	18,355
Total assets	756,563	710,177
Liabilities
Intercompany payables	66,333	90,472
Other current liabilities	71,199	71,627
Total current liabilities	137,532	162,099
Other liabilities	60,214	15,437
Total liabilities	197,746	177,536
Stockholders' equity	558,817	532,641
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	756,563	710,177
Eliminations
Assets
Intercompany receivables	(654,706)	(617,703)
Total current assets	(654,706)	(617,703)
Other intangible assets, net	(32,421)
Investments in subsidiaries	(2,220,556)	(2,070,974)
Other assets	(46,552)
Total assets	(2,954,235)	(2,688,677)
Liabilities
Intercompany payables	(654,706)	(617,703)
Total current liabilities	(654,706)	(617,703)
Other liabilities	(46,552)
Total liabilities	(701,258)	(617,703)
Stockholders' equity	(2,252,977)	(2,070,974)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (2,954,235)	$ (2,688,677)