Business Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Fee revenue	$ 202,004	$ 185,951	$ 584,929	$ 592,418
Segment income (loss)	13,147	17,094	48,420	68,443
Restructuring charges, net	4,441	929	19,936	929
Operating income (loss)	8,706	16,165	28,484	67,514
North America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Fee revenue	71,259	72,000	212,806	229,449
Segment income (loss)	14,637	15,601	47,164	58,417
Restructuring charges, net		(15)	5,436	(15)
Operating income (loss)	14,637	15,616	41,728	58,432
EMEA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Fee revenue	33,600	34,442	96,565	108,681
Segment income (loss)	4,177	4,419	9,788	14,451
Restructuring charges, net		897	4,752	897
Operating income (loss)	4,177	3,522	5,036	13,554
Asia Pacific
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Fee revenue	18,301	18,383	54,022	62,706
Segment income (loss)	1,913	1,397	4,104	8,858
Restructuring charges, net			613
Operating income (loss)	1,913	1,397	3,491	8,858
South America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Fee revenue	7,334	7,256	22,295	23,204
Segment income (loss)	920	1,687	4,226	6,572
Restructuring charges, net		(99)		(99)
Operating income (loss)	920	1,786	4,226	6,671
Subtotal
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Fee revenue	130,494	132,081	385,688	424,040
Segment income (loss)	21,647	23,104	65,282	88,298
Restructuring charges, net		783	10,801	783
Operating income (loss)	21,647	22,321	54,481	87,515
Leadership & Talent Consulting
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Fee revenue	41,155	28,031	107,999	83,757
Segment income (loss)	1,643	5,195	12,834	11,389
Restructuring charges, net	4,441		5,118
Operating income (loss)	(2,798)	5,195	7,716	11,389
Futurestep
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Fee revenue	30,355	25,839	91,242	84,621
Segment income (loss)	3,722	1,587	10,227	7,258
Restructuring charges, net		146	3,086	146
Operating income (loss)	3,722	1,441	7,141	7,112
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment income (loss)	(13,865)	(12,792)	(39,923)	(38,502)
Restructuring charges, net			931
Operating income (loss)	$ (13,865)	$ (12,792)	$ (40,854)	$ (38,502)