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?
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.
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.
Hurry, 1 hour left and only $8 with shipping :0). (http://cgi.ebay.com/Phoenix-Wright-Ace-Attorney-Nintendo-DS_W0QQitemZ110237499030QQihZ001QQcategoryZ62053QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewIteml)
Meh, I'll wait until Gamestop gets a copy.
Don't waste your money.
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.