Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	$ 110,430	$ 70,723
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX:
Currency translation adjustments (including a tax benefit of $1,146 for the three months ended March 31, 2016)	16,932	11,739
Employee benefit plans:
Actuarial loss (net of tax benefit of $261 and $70 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively)	(495)	(141)
Adjustment for items reclassified to earnings (net of tax expense of $276 and $393 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively)	1,086	1,186
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX	17,523	12,784
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	127,953	83,507
LESS - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	2,877	3,900
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO LAZARD LTD	$ 125,076	$ 79,607