A new dinuclear centrosymmetric complex [LaL(HL)(H2O)3]2·2H2O (H2L = 3-nitro- phthalic acid, NPA) was synthesized in water/ethanol solution and characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR spectrum and TGA-DTA. The complex crystallizes in triclinic system, space group P1 with a = 8.1549(16), b = 8.8856(18), c = 15.277(3) , α = 100.93(3), β = 90.81(3), γ = 104.56(3)°, V = 1049.8(4) 3, Z = 1, μ = 2.125 mm-1, Dc = 1.994 g/cm3, R = 0.0259 and wR = 0.0679. Two 3-nitrophthalates(2-) coordinate with the La3+ ions in a bridging mode, and two monohydrogen- 3-nitrophthates(1-) and three waters in terminal ways, respectively. Each La3+ ion is nine- coordinated to exhibit a distorted tricapped trigonal prism coordination polyhedron. Both the coordinated and crystal waters are involved in the inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The dinuclear units are linked into a 2D network structure in the ab plane via intermolecular hydrogen bonds along the axes a and b. Two crystal waters fill each rhombic pore of the network. The networks are further packed along the c axis forming a layered supramolecular structure through the C–H…O weak forces between the adjacent sheets. TGA analysis shows the complex undergoes the loss of waters of crystallization and coordination and the decomposition of ligands sequentially.