The term "fraud", in its general sense, is deemed to comprise anything calculated to deceive,

including all acts, omissions, and concealment involving a breach of legal or equitable duty, trust, or
confidence justly reposed, resulting in damage to another, or by which an undue and
unconscientious advantage is taken of another.

The fact that the practice of law is not a business and attorney plays a vital role in the administration
of justice and underscores the need to secure him his honorarium lawfully earned as a means to
preserve the decorum and respectability of the legal profession. A lawyer is as much entitled to
judicial protection against injustice, imposition or fraud on the part of his client as the client against
abuse on the part of his counsel. The duty of the court is not alone to see that a lawyer acts in a
proper and lawful manner; it is also its duty to see that a lawyer is paid his just fees.

Further, the duty of a lawyer to a reasonable compensation for his services requires the existence of
an attorney-client relationship and the rendition by the lawyer of services to the client.
In other words, there should be a professional contract, express or implied, between a lawyer and
his client and the lawyer should have rendered services pursuant thereto before he may be entitled
to counsel fees.