More work may be headed in the direction of alternative legal service providers, and there's a chance that law firms won't be entirely sorry to see it all go. While many firms have been actively concentrating on the lucrative and high-level services that behoove their enduring perception as a trusted legal adviser, ALSPs have emerged as a major force in the type of process work that dominates much of clients' day-to-day activity.

Still, transactional work such as e-discovery or due diligence may comprise a larger portion of the legal ecosystem than law firms realize or admit. And as demand for those types of services continue to fuel the growth of ALSPs, firms could find their grip on the market loosening with regards to scope, talent and clients.

"I think in the short term, I don't see how it's not going to erode law firm business," says Nathan Cemenska, director of legal operations and industry insights at Wolters Kluwer's ELM Solutions.