If legal's new normal becomes working remotely in an economic downturn, industry observers say more firms will leverage tech to automate processes and rely on vendors for cost efficiencies.

To be sure, more general counsel are already eyeing alternative legal services providers (ALSPs) as an option to avoid expensive billing.

"I'm seeing more openness to considering alternative legal service providers for types of work that would have by default gone to traditional premium-priced law firms," said Jason Winmill, a managing partner at Argopoint, where he advises corporate legal departments on their management structures and issues.