Ok, so I'm gonna get into Phoenix Wright....

[Tupin]

After Ninja Gaiden DS of course.... ::)

But anyway, none of the stores near me have the first one, just Justice for All, Trials and Tribulations, and Apollo Justice.

Am I missing anything by missing out on the first game?

[Flying Chickens]

Possibly.
Trials and Tribulations is the first one I've played, and the only one. They make references to past cases and there's characters they already know and such. So maybe.

[Riosan]

Yes; backstory on characters, character introductions, and the like.

Emulate the first one if you can't find it, no one will think any less of you.

[BOSSNIG]

Hurry, 1 hour left and only $8 with shipping :0).

[Tupin]

Meh, I'll wait until Gamestop gets a copy.

[Cecil_and_Kain]

Don't waste your money.

[LinkXLR]

The First and Second games, I've been told, aren't in production anymore. It's a bit sad really. Trials and Tribulations shouldn't be too difficult to find, and Apollo Justice only came out a month or two ago.

My recommendation? eBay.