If going ULE, I make sure to get the amulet of order from the Sheriff, and save resolving the puppy quest until I'm trying to get to L+. (It doesn't take care of the whole thing but it helps.) Can't remember if there are other lawful quest that are easy to leave [resolving] until later...

I use altars almost exclusively to make big moves between alignments. Naked holding an artifact with all equipment dropped, sacrificing $1 at a time is plenty to get to C+ or L-.