Britain has one of the world's oldest and most respected legal systems, and British firms continue to be world leaders in legal talent and expertise.

I was the first person in my family to go to university, and after graduating I am proud to have returned to the community I grew up in to serve for a decade as an employment lawyer, before joining Labour's front bench as shadow justice secretary.

Our legal sector is one of the most important features of our economy, providing 300,000 jobs and bringing £26 billion into our economy.

This success relies on our global reputation and the relationships we have across borders, which is why the Conservative government's mishandling of Brexit has rightly caused widespread concern in the legal sector.

More than half of legal employees (59%) recently said they were worried about the impact of Brexit on their sector, according to YouGov. The Law Society estimates that a no-deal Brexit, which Boris Johnson has been casually threatening, could take a £3.5 billion chunk out of the legal sector and put 10,000 jobs at risk. And his deal offers no certainty to the services industries that make up the majority of our economy.

Labour will negotiate a deal with Europe that protects jobs and the economy by maintaining a close relationship with the single market.

We will then put that deal alongside Remain to the British people, resolving the Brexit divide once and for all within six months.

Our approach will address the Conservatives' failure to properly plan for reciprocal justice arrangements after Brexit, which could have damaging consequences for both criminal and civil justice.

Alongside this, we will develop a humane immigration system that is responsive to economic need, ensuring that British business can recruit the people from overseas that it needs to, and create a welcoming environment for newcomers and their families.

Above all, our legal system is too important to be skewed against those who can afford high-quality advice. Through pro bono work, many law firms do great work in supporting those who cannot afford access to justice. But the government's running down of legal aid has rendered too many victims of injustice unable to seek redress. That's why Labour will reverse all the Conservative cuts to legal aid-funded Early Legal Help and launch a £20 million fund for community law centres.

And I am also keen to ensure access to the legal industry for talented students from all backgrounds. In spite of the great access work undertaken voluntarily by firms, many of my friends at law college could not go into the area of law they wanted.

This is why Labour's new Community Lawyer Initiative will provide government-funded training contracts for 200 lawyers to serve their communities, building on schemes like the Justice First Fellowship. And Labour's plans for free education will also help young aspiring lawyers enter the sector.

Labour will turn our justice system around after a decade of cuts, so that we can ensure the rule of law is protected. Our most valuable principle is equality before the law; and a Labour government will ensure that a strong legal sector is able to safeguard that fundamental right.

Richard Burgon is shadow justice secretary and a Labour MP standing for Leeds East in the 2019 election.

Read the other parties' pitches to the legal industry: