I.
The brief is the work.
First Precedent is a research-only legal firm. We do not appear in court, advise clients, or manage matters. The single function of this firm is the production of rigorous legal research — and that is what makes the research worth what it costs.
II. The Argument
Most legal research in India is delegated, rushed, and unverified.
The quality of a legal argument depends entirely on the quality of the research that underpins it. In most firms, research is delegated to the most junior members of the team, conducted under severe time pressure, and delivered without systematic verification. The result is research that misses authority, misstates ratios, and omits conflicting decisions — not through incompetence, but through structural inadequacy.
First Precedent was established to address this structural gap. Every instruction receives the full capacity of a team whose only professional obligation is the production of rigorous, independently concluded legal research. There are no client meetings to attend, no court appearances to prepare for, no drafting deadlines competing for the researcher's attention.
The brief is the work.
III. What We Do
Four categories of work.
I.
Core Legal Research
Foundational research — case law, statute, legislative history, and comparative analysis — drawn from primary sources.
II.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Research support for the drafting, verification, and strategic deployment of court documents.
III.
Corporate & Transactional
Diligence, compliance, and market-entry research for transactional and operational matters.
IV.
Academic, Policy & Content
Research support and editorial work for academic, policy, and publication contexts.
Sixteen services in total. View the full catalogue →
IV. Methodology
From instruction to delivery.
- 1.
Intake. A research lead reviews the brief, identifies the core legal questions, and confirms the scope of research before any work begins. No engagement proceeds without this confirmation.
- 2.
Synthesis. Research is conducted from primary sources only — the Constitution of India, central and state Acts, subordinate legislation, judgments retrieved from SCC Online and Manupatra, and legislative records including parliamentary debates and committee reports.
- 3.
Verification. Every cited judgment is verified for currency at the point of delivery. Subsequent appeals, overrulings, distinctions, and legislative amendments are noted explicitly. Conflicting lines of authority are presented in full.
V. From the Library
Recent publications.
Forthcoming.
The Library is being assembled. It will house Research Notes on recent judgments, Legislative Trackers, Sector Briefs, and Methodology Papers. The first publication will appear here shortly.
VI. The Iura Ecosystem
First Precedent is one of three.
Each entity within Iura operates independently in its domain while contributing to a shared standard of quality in Indian legal services.