Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	$ 90,826	$ 58,331
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX:
Currency translation adjustments	(19,743)	(50,746)
Employee benefit plans:
Actuarial gain (net of tax expense of $762 and $1,826 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively)	1,065	9,088
Adjustment for items reclassified to earnings (net of tax expense of $381 and $338 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively)	1,336	1,895
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS, NET OF TAX	(17,342)	(39,763)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	73,484	18,568
LESS - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	3,527	(5,690)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO LAZARD LTD	$ 69,957	$ 24,258