Related Party Transactions - Summary of Interest Income, Other Revenues and Investment Income to Private Equity Related Funds (Detail) - Equity Method Investee [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Other revenues and investment income (loss)		$ (26,179)	$ (14,868)
Service charges		$ 1,341	$ 2,497
Equity Investments in Jefferies Capital Partners Related Funds [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Other revenues and investment income (loss)	$ (2,328)
Service charges	$ 760

Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Related Parties
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16382449

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.1(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606610-122999

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration