Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Financial Information Condensed Consolidated Statement Of Cash Flow (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Operating activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 13,624	$ 46,848
Investing activities
Payments for acquisition of businesses, including contingent payments, net of cash received	(26,453)	(62,346)
Purchases of property and equipment	(20,534)	(24,595)
Other	(1,105)	(127)
Net cash used in investing activities	(48,092)	(87,068)
Financing activities
Borrowings under revolving line of credit	75,000	25,000
Payments of revolving line of credit		(25,000)
Payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(156,487)	(6,967)
Net issuance of common stock and other	(1,557)	796
Purchase and retirement of common stock	(20,013)	(209,400)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	98	198
Net cash used in financing activities	(102,959)	(215,373)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(68)	(747)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(137,495)	(256,340)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	264,423	384,570
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	126,928	128,230
FTI Consulting, Inc.
Operating activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(47,163)	(18,645)
Investing activities
Payments for acquisition of businesses, including contingent payments, net of cash received	(26,089)	(33,735)
Purchases of property and equipment	(6,016)	(7,644)
Other	(1,105)	(127)
Net cash used in investing activities	(33,210)	(41,506)
Financing activities
Borrowings under revolving line of credit	75,000	25,000
Payments of revolving line of credit		(25,000)
Payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(156,438)	(6,806)
Net issuance of common stock and other	415	796
Purchase and retirement of common stock	(20,013)	(209,400)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	98	198
Intercompany transfers	51,398	40,555
Net cash used in financing activities	(49,540)	(174,657)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(129,913)	(234,808)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	161,180	292,738
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	31,267	57,930
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	36,366	77,208
Investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment	(11,689)	(10,210)
Net cash used in investing activities	(11,689)	(10,210)
Financing activities
Payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(49)	(161)
Intercompany transfers	(24,278)	(67,857)
Net cash used in financing activities	(24,327)	(68,018)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	350	(1,020)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	197	1,430
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	547	410
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating activities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	24,421	(11,715)
Investing activities
Payments for acquisition of businesses, including contingent payments, net of cash received	(364)	(28,611)
Purchases of property and equipment	(2,829)	(6,741)
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,193)	(35,352)
Financing activities
Net issuance of common stock and other	(1,972)
Intercompany transfers	(27,120)	27,302
Net cash used in financing activities	(29,092)	27,302
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(68)	(747)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(7,932)	(20,512)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	103,046	90,402
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 95,114	$ 69,890