The first 3 games of this amazing series focuses on the cases of the rookie defense attorney, Phoenix Wright. He takes on cases, mainly due to the fact that he either knows the person, or is doing some sort of favour.

Throughout the series, he is aided by Maya Fey, his assistant, as well as being the sister of Phoenix's mentor, the beautiful Mia Fey. The Fey family are well known for being spirit mediums, and it is thru that that despite Mia's untimely passing, she continues to return to aid Phoenix via Maya or Pearl Pey, the genius 8-year old spirit medium who is the cousin of the sisters.

The game also provides many friends and rivals for Phoenix and co. Two examples are Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth and Detective Dick Gumshoe.

Detective Gumshoe is a homicide detective that seems to strangely be involved with every case Phoenix is in. He is also the mainstay comic relief for the series, as it turns out, he isn't very good at his job despite his never ending enthusiasium, often resulting in a paycheck deficit for him.

Miles Edgeworth is not only the main prosecutor in the series, he is also Phoenix's childhood friend, until an unfortunate incident split them up, and changed his personality.

Honourable mentions to several other key characters to the series.

Franziska von Karma is a prosecuting prodigy who started her career at a young age of 13 year-old in Germany. She is the daughter of the legendary Manfred, who was undefeated for 40 years, until a certain Phoenix whooped his ass in the first game, and Franzy is back to avenge him, or so it seems. Her trademark is her whip-crazy personality, in which she whips everyone in sight that doesn't live up to her expectations, namely Gumshoe and Phoenix.

Godot is a rookie prosecutor whose seems to have a grudge against Phoenix, despite Phoenix having no recollection of him at all. He mysteriously calls Phoenix "Trite" despite knowing his name. He is a coffee crazy person, who never drinks more then 17 cups per court day (which is plenty enough, thanks...).

Other recurring characters include Morgan Fey, Maya's aunt and Pearl's mother, Larry Butz, a childhood friend of Phoenix and Edgeworth, who has a knack of getting into trouble, Lotta Hart, a photographer with a southerner's accent, Maggey Byrde, an unlucky girl who Gumshoe has a crush on, and everyone's favourite Wendy Oldbag, the security lady with a touch of steel.

Apollo Justice, on his first trial, defends Phoenix Wright, the legendary former defence attorney, who was forced to retire just months after the final case in the third game due to a major incident. Thus, after certain events, Apollo becomes Phoenix's "apprentice", and together with Trucy, Phoenix's adopted daughter, they take over as the defence duo, and slowly uncover the truth of the string of events that occured 7 years ago.

The game also brings back Ema Skye, a girl whose sister was once defended (and got acquitted) by Phoenix. She takes over Gumshoe's role as the main detective. Though not as enthusatic as Gumshoe once was, she brings about a new feeling to the role, using science to gather clues, quite unlike Gumshoe's methods.